Celtic Challenge: Late heartbreak for Edinburgh against Gwalia Lightning
Yesterday at 12:15 PM
Edinburgh 27
Gwalia Lightning 29
RACHEL CAMERON @ Hive Stadium
EDINBURGH WOMEN suffered heartbreak in the final play of this match when full-back Lucia Scott was held up over the line, meaning a first loss for the Scottish side at Hive Stadium during this 2024-25 Celtic Challenge campaign. Although the hosts had scored one more try than their opposition, visiting fly-half Carys Hughes’ goal-kicking gave her side an edge which became crucial in the closing stages.
"It swung back and forward a couple of times in those last ten [minutes],” said Edinburgh head coach Claire Cruikshank. “In terms of fight and effort, I think we are really proud of how we finished that game off.
"It proves that we know our roles and we know what we want to do and when we are all on the same page we are a real tough test for everyone,” she added. "Those last three or four minutes were probably, I would say, our best collective effort. I don't know how many phases it was we went through in the end there, but the fight and heart was brilliant.
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From the kick off, it took just two minutes for Edinburgh to open the scoring through GB 7s player Shona Campbell as she danced through four defenders from just inside Gwalia's half, but there was no conversion.
Some strong carries from the home forwards got Edinburgh to just five metres from scoring again, but they conceded a penalty for holding onto the ball on the deck. The capital side then managed to steal the ball from a line-out but when they made it to the try-line, they were held up. Moments later, a similar scene saw captain Alex Stewart held up.
Edinburgh's forwards worked extremely hard in defence, but Gwalia Lightning eventually found a gap to get Lily Terry over the line, with the conversion from Hughes a success, meaning a narrow lead for the visitors.
After the sole side conceded a series of penalties for various infringements. Gwalia's Erin Jones made a great break to get her team up the field and Molly Wakely was able to cross the whitewash, with Hughes' again successfully converting.
Edinburgh worked their way up field but a knock-on just shirt of the line gave Gwalia the opportunity to escape the danger zone, and when Edinburgh conceded another penalty, Hughes opted for a shot at goal, but she missed on this occasion..
Five minutes before halftime, Edinburgh vice-captain Hannah Walker made a 40-metre dash to dot down between the sticks, and the conversion from Scotland player Scott being the only successful home kick at goal of the day.
The second half started off slowly for both sides, but a great tackle from Stewart put a Gwalia player into touch and gave Edinburgh some much needed territory. The hosts were awarded a penalty for Gwalia not rolling away and then used their strong forward pack to drive the line-out maul home five metres out with Aila Ronald adding the finishing touch.
From the restart, Gwalia retained possession, and from a line-out five metres from Edinburgh's line, Wakely managed to pull away from the maul and make a dash for the line. She was taken down just short, only for Gwennan Hopkins to pick the ball up and claim Gwalia's third try.
Edinburgh claimed the bonus point score when Scott stepped through Gwalia’s defence beautifully then found Cieron Bell on her outside, who had an easy gallop over the whitewash.
A short while later, the home side conceded a penalty just in front of the posts and Hughes was able to tee the ball up and add three points to square the match with just 15 minutes to go.
Edinburgh got back on the front foot just two minutes later when Walker managed to fend off two Gwalia players to score her second of the day on the left wing, but there was still time for a few more twist in this tale.
Gwalia's forwards managed to work their way up the field to get second-row Alaw Pyrs over the whitewash. The conversion from Hughes was successful and Gwalia were ahead by two points with just four minutes to play.
A knock-on by Gwalia then gave Edinburgh a scrum, and a subsequent penalty raised excitement levels for the home support as their team pushed hard for a match-winning score. Scott thought she had gotten over the line but, heartbreakingly for the home side, Gwalia's CaitlinLewis had managed to get underneath the ball and hold the full-back up, which meant a second consecutive defeat or capital side. Their only commiseration being a losing bonus point.
Edinburgh will seek redemption when they face Gwalia Lightning again next Saturday in Wales. They will also be keen to close the seven point gap which now exists between the two sides who are third fourth and third in the table, respectively.
Teams –
Edinburgh Women: L Scott; C Bell, S Campbell, S Denholm, H Walker; H Ramsay, R Clarke; T Tawake, A Ronald, H McMahon; A Ferrie, N Logan, C Fosbeary, A Stewart, M Gunderson. Subs used: K Craig, A Wilson, C Brown, L Christie, S Taganekurukuru, P Benson, L Macrae.
Gwalia Lightning: C Greenway; C Williams-Morris, K Lake, M Anderson-Thomas, C Lewis; C Hughes, Meg Davies; Maisie Davies, M Wakely, J Scoble; E Jones, A Pyrs, L Terry, C Stewart, B King. Subs used: M Crabb, D Hopkins, C Williams, G Hopkins, L Buffery Latham,, S Jones, A Owen, R Parry.
Referee: Chelsea Gillespie
Scorers –
Edinburgh: Tries: Campbell; Walker 2; Ronald; Bell; Cons: Scott.
Gwalia Lightning: Tries: Terry; Wakely; Hopkins; Pyrs; Cons: Hughes 3; Pens: Hughes.
Scoring Sequence (Edinburgh Women first): 5-0; 5-5; 5-7; 5-12; 5-14; 10-14; 12-14 (h-t) 17-14; 17-19; 22-19; 22-22; 27-22; 27-27l; 29-27.
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