Brython Thunder went down to a narrow 15-12 lost to Irish side Clovers in the Celtic Challenge Round 3 clash at Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Welsh side gave as good as they got in a physical and bruising clash with the runners up in last season’s Celtic Challenge.
This was a major step forward for a young Thunder side who more than held their own against one of the best teams in the league.
Full-back Amy Williams and captain Gwen Crabb crossed for tries for the home side.
Thunder were captained by Wales lock Crabb for the first time since her decision to return to home to play her club rugby. Wales Test stars Courtney Keight and Lisa Neumann were drafted in from the PWR clubs to make their debuts for Thunder. The Wales duo were joined by senior Wales internationals Natalia John and centre Hannah Bluck, making her first start of the campaign.
Wing Neumann had played in the original Celtic Challenge pilot but the tournament is unrecognisable with two teams from Wales and semi-finals and finals added to the league. Former Wales captain Rhian Bowden, who has been capped 49-times for her country, was drafted in from her club Senghenydd Sirens.
Clovers opened the scoring with a Caitriona Finn penalty before wing Emily Foley crossed for the game’s first try and to make the score 8-0 midway through the first half.
Centre Lucia Linn grabbed a second after a Brython fumble in midfield to run in from halfway. Finn converted to make it 15-0.
The home side replied with a try after a period of pressure and an astute cross-kick by fly-half Hanna Marshall which saw full-back Williams cross the whitewash. Marshall added the conversion from wide out.
Clovers dominated the rest of the half but a heroic defensive effort by Thunder for the last few minutes saw the score stay 15-7 at half-time.
After the break, Brython piled on the pressure and skipper Crabb scored off a well-worked driving lineout to bring the home side to within three points.
Both sides had their chances in the second half but well drilled defences held sway in a closely-fought second period.
Neither side took a backward step with big hits flying in but it was Clovers who came away with the win in Cardiff.