Wolfhounds 52-26 Glasgow Warriors

Wolfhounds were able to get a strong foothold in the game during the first-half – setting the high tempo and commanding possession – running in six tries and keeping Glasgow scoreless at the interval.

The visitors kicked off and applied some early pressure but Wolfhounds brought some promising attacks to a halt, successfully ripping the ball from Warriors’ hands several times.

Having relinquished possession from the Warriors, the hosts were quickly able to assert their control in the game with Caoimhe Molloy opening the scoring for Wolfhounds and Abby Moyles adding the extras (7-0).

Some skilled interplay between the forwards and the backs brought Wolfhounds thundering towards the whitewash again and it wasn’t long before Erin King grabbed a second score for the hosts, with Moyles’ conversion hitting the posts but still going over the bar (14-0).

The hosts efficiency in attack gave them the upper hand again and were able to stretch their lead as Fiona Tuite ignited the side’s next try as she broke through the defence before the ball found Katie Corrigan who scored, with Moyles adding the extras (21-0).

Wolfhounds continued to dominate proceedings and built on their tally when Linda Djougang secured the bonus point for the hosts (26-0).

Tuite – who looked dangerous whenever in possession of the ball – was next on the scoreboard after producing another scintillating attack, with Moyles slotting the conversion through the posts (33-0).

Wolfhounds were able to grab another score before half-time, with Maeve Og O’Leary crossing the whitewash and Moyles adding the extras (40-0).

HALF-TIME: Wolfhounds 40-0 Glasgow Warriors

Wolfhounds’ relentless form continued in the second-half, as Molloy pounced on a mistake from the Warriors and crashed over the line to score, with Moyles adding the extras (47-0).

Moments later, Eve Higgins launched an attack and was able to evade a tackle with a powerful hand-off, before the centre floated the ball to Vicky Elmes Kinlan who crossed the whitewash (52-0).

There was a shift in momentum for the remainder of the second-half, with Glasgow Warriors mounting a charging attack and claiming their first points on the scoreboard through co-captain Holland Bogan, with Mille Warren adding the extras (52-7).

Warriors continued to rally, building a greater share of possession, and soon claimed their second try of the match through Rianna Darroch who dotted down from close range, with Warren slotting the conversion through the posts (52-14).

The visitors cranked through the gears again and barrelled their way towards the whitewash, with Briar McNamara eventually crossing the whitewash to bring the side close to securing a try bonus point, with Warren nailing another conversion (52-21).

Warriors were rewarded for their endeavours in the second-half, as Sky Phimister scampered into the corner to claim the try bonus point and the last score of the game, with Warren’s conversion hitting the posts (52-26).

Speaking after the match, Glasgow Warriors Women Head Coach Lindsey Smith said: “It was a game of two halves today. The first-half was below our usual standards and Wolfhounds made it very difficult for us. They kept the ball really well and we probably didn’t challenge them enough around the contact area.

“In terms of the second-half, I’m really proud of how the players turned it around. We spoke about playing for pride at the interval and about how we could still come away with a point.

“There were some things we needed to be better at in terms of that contact area and being aggressive off our line but I think that’s what the players did really well in the second-half.”

FULL-TIME: Wolfhounds 52-26 Glasgow Warriors