There’s a storm arriving at the Parc on Sunday as Brython Thunder take on Gwalia Lightning in a crucial Celtic Challenge derby (2pm KO), that could see both Welsh sides reach the competition play-offs.
Thunder, who have been based at Parc y Scarlets since their inception three seasons ago, have enjoyed an incredible transformation in recent weeks, putting together a winning run that sees them on the cusp of a semi-final spot. Lightining have already secured their spot in the top four.
That would have appeared an unlikely prospect at the turn of the year with Ashley Beck’s side propping up the six-team table without a win to their name.
However, in the last four rounds, they have ripped up the form book, winning away and then home against Edinburgh, taking the scalp of reigning champions, Irish side the Wolfhounds, in arguably the biggest upset in the competition’s history and last weekend, beating Glasgow 32-10 to keep their top-four hopes very much alive.
“The girls have been fantastic,” said former Ospreys, Worcester and Wales centre Beck.
“You look at the manner of how they have done it, beating first place at home, going to Scotland and winning when we needed to last weekend, they are getting the rewards for all the hard work they have put in.
“We spoke at the start of the season that the play-offs were the goal. After four rounds, we were thinking, ‘right how is this going to go?’, but the girls have pulled together brilliantly. We have talked about four finals – we have had one (in Glasgow), this game on a Sunday is a derby game so I shouldn’t have to say too much to get them excited and if we can get things right and get into the play-offs it will just sum up our season in terms of how much we have grown from start to finish.”
Seren Singleton races clear against Edinburgh
Brython have a squad packed with exciting young talent mixed with a handful of senior internationals, who have had a big influence on the campaign.
“Having those international girls has been huge for us,” added Beck. “When you talk about players like Shona Wakley, Rhian Bowden, Natalia John, Gwen Crabb, Lisa Neumman, it helps so much having them around the young players, girls who come out of university and need a bit of guidance. When they see how they compete in the gym, how they prepare for games, it just helps build another layer in Welsh rugby.
“It has been great to have that experience back and in terms of that young talent coming through, some of them are going to have really bright futures.”
Thunder celebrate after beating Wolfhounds in Llanelli
One of those senior Wales internationals, Gwen Crabb, has been leading the side this year and is relishing Sunday’s showdown against familiar foes.
Brython currently sit in fourth spot, three points ahead of Glasgow, who host Edinburgh on Friday night.
“It’s exciting for us all, having turned our season around and now being in a position where we are fighting for a place in the play-offs – it is exactly where we wanted to be at the start of the season,” said the 26-year-old second row.
“It is never easy when you are losing game after game, but we never lost hope, we always knew there would be an opportunity to turn things around and beating the Wolfhounds, the champions, and nilling them as well out here at Parc y Scarlets was a massive confidence boost for us.”
As for the prospect of taking on Welsh rivals Gwalia for a place in the semi-finals, she added: “We train with these girls when we are together in camp so we obviously know them really well. When we played them at the Arms Park at the start of the season we weren’t quite firing, so for us, it is an exciting opportunity to right those wrongs and put in the type of performance that we want to.
“Hopefully we can get a good crowd, it is International Women’s Day as well, so it will be great to get as many youngsters here watching and aspiring to what they can be.”
Those words were echoed by head coach Beck, who added: “It should be an outstanding occasion, my kids are coming down so I’m hoping my daughter gets a good feel for women’s sport and hopefully the product can be just as good to reward the girls for all the hard work they have put in.
“With a play-off place up for grabs, it is going to be a really exciting day.”
Sunday’s match kicks off at 2pm, with tickets available from the Scarlets ticket office on 0155 292939 or online HERE