Wolfhounds defeat Thunder to set up Clovers final
Ireland sevens star and player of the match Eve Higgins was among Wolfhounds' try-scorers [Rex Features] Celtic Challenge semi-final Wolfhounds (31) 36 Tries: Smyth, Flood 2, Higgins, Kinlan, O'Connor Cons: O'Brien 3 Brython Thunder (0) 10 Tries: Metcalfe, Aiono Wolfhounds will join fellow Irish side Clovers in the Celtic Challenge final after easing to a 36-10 victory over Brython Thunder. The reigning champions produced a statement performance at Dexcom Stadium, running in six tries, including a first half double for full-back Stacey Flood. Lock Naoise Smyth, centre Eve Higgins and wing Vicky Elmes Kinlan also crossed in a dominant first half display.
Wing Robyn O'Connor added her named to the scoresheet in a more competitive second half, with Thunder flanker Branwen Metcalfe and number eight Jorja Aiono crossing in a late rally. Wolfhounds will meet Clovers in the final at Edinburgh's Hive Stadium on Saturday, 28 March (15:00 GMT), looking to claim third consecutive title. Thunder headed to sunny Galway full of confidence having won their last five games, including a 14-0 victory over Wolfhounds in Llanelli.
But the Irish outfit wasted no time in asserting their dominance, with Smyth rolling out of a tackle to score after just three minutes. Flood's effort soon followed, with Wolfhounds finding numbers on the blindside to give an easy run-in. Flood then popped up on the opposite wing to score as Thunder struggled to live with Wolfhounds' ruck speed.
Higgins secured the bonus-point inside half an hour, the sevens star spotting a gap in the ruck, throwing a dummy before charging to the line. Thunder eventually enjoyed a spell of pressure, with the likes of Stella Orrin, Natalia John and Aiono all carrying well, but they left Wolfhounds' 22 with nothing to show. Instead, the hosts gave a lesson in how to be clinical when Flood charged down Hannah Marshall's kick before popping the ball out to Kinlan to score a fifth try.
Clovers book spot in Celtic Challenge final Edinburgh to stage Celtic Challenge final Thunder put up more resistance after the break, but even with Wolfhounds prop Sophie Barrett in the sin bin, they could not find a way to score. They defended narrowly at times, which gifted O'Connor plenty of space out wide to score the opening try of the second half. Thunder kept plugging away and eventually got some reward 10 minutes from time when Metcalfe crashed over from close range.