The Wolfhounds came from 10-0 down to record an opening round success in the Celtic Challenge as they overcame fellow Irish contingent the Clovers in Musgrave Park this evening.

On the losing front until after the hour mark, tries from Linda Djougang, Sarah Delaney and Eimear Corri made it a stunning climax to a hard fought contest on Leeside. Nikki Caughey added the important extras for all three tries as Neill Alcorn’s side recorded a five point win.

An early indication from the first half showed this was not going to be easy for either side to get scores, it looked like the score would remain 0-0 going to the dressing room, Beth Buttimer struck late on in the opening half to give the Clovers the advantage.

A try at the start and finish of proceedings in the second stanza was not enough to seal a win for the Clovers, now they face Brython Thunder from Wales in Round 2 at Energia Park in January looking to dust off from this defeat, The Wolfhounds meanwhile head to Scotland to meet Edinburgh.

Neither a stranger to the other, the opening exchanges were very much cagey in search of a dream start to proceedings. Kicking in behind was an option for both to exploit as the lineout’s were a strong tool utilised in the early proceedings.

Hard Hitting from the word go, this Celtic Challenge derby between the two Irish sides in this year’s expanded competition certainly did not let things slide early on. The Wolfhounds were first to ask questions with Hannah O’Connor being stopped shy of the line, O’Connor would later cross however an infringement in the move allowed the Clovers a scrum to end the passage of danger.

A Meabh Deely penalty to touch gave the Clovers territory in the Wolfhounds half of the field. From a strong driving maul with Beth Buttimer at the rear, a first sign of threat for the Clovers looked to warrant an early score. Going through the phases they searched for a cap, however the Wolfhounds were stout in their defence and O’Connoer bundled Kayla Waldron into touch to win an important lineout for her side.

With the minutes ticking by in the half, the deadlocked remained unbreeched as both sides kept the high level of intensity as possession exchanged hands numerous times in the opening period. Errors did start to creep in the game of both teams at crucial moments as we entered the final ten minutes and that first score was set to be a pivotal moment for whoever could manage to smash that glass ceiling.

Having put the Wolfhounds under intense pressure Dannah O’Brien found touch outside the 22m line and with possession restored the Clovers took advantage. Driving their strong lineout maul past the 22m line with Nicole Cronin as conductor, they were awarded a crucial penalty short of goal.

Deely kicked for touch and five out from goal the alarm bells started to ring, the Clovers heaved their way inch by inch to the line and Buttimer who fed the lineout kept a hold of possession to touch down for the games opening try shy of the interval, Deely saw the conversion which followed miss the mark, however the advantage was with the Clovers heading into the dressing rooms with a 5-0 half-time lead.

Nicole Cronin would have to be replaced in the moments which followed, another injury worry for the Munster and UL Bohemian out-half who had zero luck with injuries of late.

Into the second half and with the Clovers looking for their second try, it almost arrived in the opening minutes. Ailsa Hughes who replaced Cronin at scrum-half, darted from a quick tap go penalty, Hughes hit the gas from inside the ten metre line and made ground well inside the Wolfhounds half before being tackled. Offloading to Ruth Campbell who made ground before Dorothy Wall took possession to race down the right wing, she was brought to ground shy of the line and despite more pressure applied an error allowed the Wolfhounds a scrum to help clear the danger. 

While the intensity remained, the Clovers had more of the possession and with another spell attacking the Wolfhounds half, they got their reward. Again the driving maul was the catalyst pushing the Wolfhounds further back inside their own half, gathering steam up to the Wolfhounds five metre line, Hughes took possession at the back and with some quick feet dotted down the second try from close range after 58 minutes elapsed in the contest. Deely unsuccessful with the second conversion attempt.

After being up against it for most of the half, the Wolfhounds needed the next score to stay in the contest, they hit back in strong fashion and were on the board after the hour mark. Sophie Barrett pierced the Clovers rear guard with a powerful run to bring play to the Clovers five, O’Connor fed Sarah Delaney who was stopped shy of the line, pressure remained on the Clovers and unable to deal with the bombardment shown by the Wolfhounds, Linda Linda Djougang dotted the opening try. Caughey to cut the gap to three with 64 minutes on the clock.

That moment set the fire for the Wolfhounds that failed to be extinguished. Big carries from Aoife Wafer and Ella Durkan took yards inside the Clovers half, an infringement allowed Caughey to show her danger from the boot, launching a penalty to touch for some vital yards to aid the Wolfhounds attack.

Delaney was throwing well to the lineout and they made use of the passage of play, causing the Clovers a headache in defence, Delaney never let go at the back of the driving maul and with her teammates ahead acting at the bulldozers, the Blackrock and Leinster hooker dotted down for the second try of the contest amidst a sea of bodies. The lead was with the Wolfhounds and Caughey made it 14-10 following a beautiful conversion attempt.

Now the Clovers needed to dig deep in search of the score to restore their advantage in this opening contest. While they gained yardage in the Wolfhounds half and Keelin Brady shown yellow for the remainder of the contest, they had the numbers to make a splash.

While they did add a score late on it sadly was not enough. The Wolfhounds completed a stunning second half comeback after a terrific defensive shift putting Clara Barrett to touch won a vital turnover in the burning embers.

An important scrum won shy of their line, Wafer took possession and set off on a remarkable solo run down the field. Wafer had made some big carries in the contest, this the most important one. From her own five, she sprinted into the Clovers 22, evading a host of tacklers on her way.

The Wolfhounds kept on the charge following that and with Durkan and Natasja Behan finding limited room out wide they opted to go back inside, the Clovers forwards did defend well to stop wave after wave of attack, however O’Connor carved a way through and shy of the line Katie Whelan passed for Eimear Corri to add the third try, Caughey converting for a 21-10 lead, the result in doubt as seconds remained.

The Clovers did take a late consolation score, after being stopped in their tracks, Deely spotted Connacht teammate Clara Barrett out wide, a stunning crossfield kick saw the Ballina native dot down the third try for the Clovers, time not on their hands as Joy Neville brought an end to the contest after Deely’s third conversion attempt missed the mark.