Lightning complete Edinburgh double with bonus point

Wales lock Alaw Pyrs scored in the away leg against Edinburgh

Celtic Challenge

Gwalia Lightning (7) 26

Tries: Jones, King, Lewis, Greenway Cons: Jones 3

Edinburgh Rugby (5) 5

Try: Walker

Gwalia Lightning completed back-to-back Celtic Challenge wins over Edinburgh to keep alive their title hopes.

Hannah Walker and Sian Jones exchanged tries in a close first half at Ystrad Mynach, before Lightning went up a gear.

Wales duo Bryonie King and Caitlin Lewis took their chances after the break, with Courtney Greenway wrapping up the bonus-point five minutes from time.

Lightning, now unbeaten in their last three outings, are second in the table behind Wolfhounds, who they play at Media Park, Cork on Sunday, 9 February.

Edinburgh travelled to south Wales looking for revenge after being pipped 29-27 in last weekend's fixture.

They started brightly and were rewarded with a try on five minutes. The forwards went through the phases before some slick passing allowed Walker to run in her eighth try of the competition.

Lightning hit back two minutes later, as Maisie Davies was held up inches short of the line after a powerful carry, but returning scrum-half Jones sniped under the posts before converting her own effort.

They then enjoyed a sustained period of possession, but unforced errors and resolute Edinburgh defending meant pressure was not converted into points.

It was a similar story for the visitors who finished the half strong. Hannah McMahon should have scored, but this time it was Davies doing the holding up.

A chance went begging again on the stroke of the half-time, but Lightning managed to hold up the maul and their slender lead.

Lightning found their clinical edge after the break and such was their confidence, they turned down kickable points and backed their attacking scrum.

It proved the right decision with the skipper King going over from close range after a couple of good forward carries, notably Alaw Pyrs, who had an outstanding afternoon.

The lead was extended on 55 minutes, this time Jenny Hesketh fed player-of-the-match Lewis, who showed her international pace by running in a try from her own half.

Edinburgh kept plugging away, but Lightning had the final say. King made a line break with a show and go before passing out to Greenway to run in under the posts.

Edinburgh will be back in Wales on Saturday, 8 February to take on Brython Thunder at Parc y Scarlets.

Thunder are still looking for their first win of the campaign after Saturday's 58-0 hammering by Clovers.

Gwalia Lightning head coach Catrina Nicholas-McLaughlin said: "At half-time we spoke about the fact that we had created opportunities, but hadn't looked after the ball.

"We spoke about the availability of the ball on the wing and how we needed to try and get the ball there. I think in the second-half we most certainly did that.

"Going in now ahead of next week, the girls can really see our attacking capabilities and what we're able to pull together.

"We're really gaining some momentum."

Line-ups

Gwalia Lightning: Rhodd Parry; Courtney Greenway, Kelsie Webster, Anwen Owen, Caitlin Lewis; Carys Hughes, Sian Jones; Maisie Davies, Molly Wakely, Cana Williams, Lily Terry, Alaw Pyrs, Bryonie King (capt), Catrin Stewart, Gwennan Hopkins.

Replacements: Mollie Mae Crabb, Dali Hopkins, Danyelle Dinapoli, Lottie Buffery-Latham, Katie Bevans, Freya Bell, Carys Williams-Morris, Jenny Hesketh.

Edinburgh: Nicole Marlow; Shona Campbell, Giselle Chicot, Lucy MacRae, Hannah Walker; Sarah Denholm, Rhea Clarke; Alison Wilson, Aila Ronald, Hannah McMahon, Adelle Ferrie, Natasha Logan, Charlotte Fosbeary, Alex Stewart (capt), Merryn Gunderson

Replacements: Karis Craig, Chloe Brown, Megan Riach, Lauryn Walter, Samaanther Taganekurukuru, Pip Benson, Hannah Ramsay, Ami Conchie.