Normal service resumed for Celtic Challenge leaders Wolfhounds who produced a devastating eight-try display against Gwalia Lightning.
Gwalia Lightning (0) 7
Try: Lewis Cons: Hughes
Wolfhounds (35) 52
Tries: King, Corrigan 2, Djougang, Higgins, Daley, Larn, Flood Cons: O'Brien 6
Normal service resumed for Celtic Challenge leaders Wolfhounds who produced a devastating eight-try display against Gwalia Lightning.
Making their second trip to south Wales in as many weekends, the reigning champions looked a different outfit from the one which suffered a shock 14-0 defeat by Brython Thunder.
Tries from Erin King, Katie Corrigan, Linda Djougang and Eve Higgins secured the bonus-point inside half an hour, with Corrigan adding another to make it 35-0 at the break.
India Daley, Amy Larn and Stacey Flood added to the onslaught, while Lightning's sole score came courtesy of Bethan Lewis.
Fly-half Dannah O'Brien pulled the strings all afternoon, amassing 12 points from the boot.
Lewis had been brought in to bolster Lightning, along with fellow Wales internationals Gwennan Hopkins and Abbie Fleming, but they could do little to prevent Lightning's alarming slump in form.
They have now lost four games on the bounce, three at home in Ystrad Mynach, with hopes of a home semi-final now over.
They will still end the campaign inside the play-off positions, with Glasgow and Thunder fighting for a top four place.
Wolfhounds will play Clovers to decide who finishes top.
All will be decided in the final round of regular competition in next weekend's derbies.
- Thunder stun Celtic Challenge leaders Wolfhounds
- Warriors hold nerve for narrow win against Lightning
Lightning started brightly, and despite three early visits into the 22, left empty-handed, while Wolfhounds proceeded to give a lesson in how to be clinical.
The opening try came when King spotted a gap at the breakdown and ran through unopposed. It was a coach killer for Lightning with the covering defenders distracted by an injury to Evie Hill.
Under intense pressure, the hosts struggled to clear their lines and the second try came when the impressive Corrigan found space on her wing.
Corrigan looked to be in again moments later, but Caitlyn Lewis defended well, and when the ball was recycled their was no stopping the power of prop Djougang.
The try bonus-point was secured after some great interplay between Aoibheann Reilly and Aoife Dalton which opened the gap for Higgins to score.
While Wolfhounds dominated, visiting lock Naoise Smyth could count herself fortunate to stay on the field after a head-on-head collision with Alaw Pyrs who carried well.
A fifth try came on the stroke of half-time, with the defence in disarray, allowing Corrigan space for her second.
Wolfhounds needed just a minute to get over the try-line in the second half after a mistake from the kick-off.
It allowed them to set up a rolling maul which travelled all the way from the 22, with Daley the player to emerge from the pile of bodies.
Lightning started to become a tougher team to break down and were boosted when King was yellow-carded for an infringement at the ruck.
They eventually got their try when Lewis powered over from close range, the attack launched from a blistering Catherine Richards line-break.
But Wolfhounds still had a couple of tries left in them, a pinpoint cross-field kick from O'Brien sat up kindly for Larn, while Flood took advantage of a lazy pass to intercept and get her side over the 50 mark.
How they lined up
Gwalia Lightning: Prothero; Richards, Webster, Anderson-Thomas, Lewis; Hughes, Jones; Scoble, Reardon, Hill, Pyrs, Pearce, Lewis, Owen, Hopkins.
Replacements: Korsak, Thomas Bradley, Cuming, Fleming, Stewart, Shide, Hawkins, Greenway.
Wolfhounds: Flood; Corrigan, Dalton (capt), Higgins, Burns; O'Brien, Reilly, Djougang, Clenaghan, Barrett, Jordan, Smyth, Corcoran, King, Daley.
Replacements: Roberts, Wilson, Atagamen, Chonchobhair, Casey, Connor, Farrell McCabe, Larn.
Sin bin: King (60)
Category: General Sports
