THE FUSE

Celtic Challenge round four

Gwalia Lightning (17) 31

Tries: Greenway, Lewis, Pyrs, Reardon, Hawkins Cons: Hughes 2, Hesketh

Edinburgh (12) 17

Tries: Bell, Ronald, Ramsay Con: MacRae

Gwalia Lightning's impressive Celtic Challenge form continued as they enjoyed a bonus-point victory over Edinburgh.

Ceiron Bell opened the scoring on what proved to be an afternoon for the wingers, with Lightning's Courtney Greenway and Caitlin Lewis also crossing.

Edinburgh hooker Aila Ronald put the hosts back ahead before Lightning lock Alaw Pyrs struck just before half-time.

Lightning dominated after the break with player of the match Molly Reardon scoring an opportunist try, while Edinburgh rallied through Hannah Ramsay's solo effort.

Edinburgh pushed in the latter stages for a draw, but local girl Lily Hawkins had the final say, diving over at the death to seal victory.

Lightning leapfrog Wolfhounds to the top of the table, with the reigning champions due to host Welsh side Brython Thunder on Sunday.

The hosts showed early intent in the season's first outing at Ystrad Mynach, with prop Evie Hill coming to within inches of the opening score.

Edinburgh then took control, going through multiple phases before getting their reward off a driving line-out which set up space for Bell out wide.

Lightning hit back on 15 minutes, the forwards sucked in the defenders with a series of pick and goes before Greenway struck for her fifth try of the campaign.

Full-back Nikita Prothero and Lewis looked dangerous all afternoon and combined well for Lightning's second.

Reardon pounced on an overthrown line-out, charging up-field before Prothero's sweeping pass fed Lewis in the corner.

Despite being starved of possession and territory, Edinburgh claimed a second try when their powerful maul gave hooker Ronald an opportunity to break away.

Lightning flanker Anwen Owen then made a superb break in a breathless spell of play, which resulted in Nicole Marlow being shown a yellow card for a blatant offside.

Lightning took full advantage, with Pyrs going route one on the stroke of half-time.

Watch all Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder games live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app

Lightning continued to dominate after the break, with Wales duo Reardon and Maisie Davies at the heart of the forward pressure.

Davies thought she had got the ball to the line on 50 minutes, but without the benefit of a TMO, play was waved on. Replays later showed the loose-head had been an inch short.

Edinburgh defended resolutely, but their line-out proved their Achilles heel as another overthrow saw Reardon pick up at the base and power her way to the line for the try bonus-point.

Edinburgh emptied their bench early in a bid to get back into the game and the response came on 65 minutes, with fly-half Ramsay showing some great individual skill to glide over untouched.

They kept piling on the pressure in the hunt to level the scores, but Lightning's lively replacement scrum-half Hawkins had the final say, sniping from the breakdown to cross at the death.

Gwalia Lightning: Prothero; Greenway, Webster, Anderson-Thomas, Lewis; Hughes, Bevans; Davies, Reardon, Hill, Pyrs, Vucaj, erry, Owen, King (capt)

Replacements: Crabb, Cuming, Scoble, Stewart, Buffery Latham, Hawkins, McMullen, Hesketh

Edinburgh: Marlow; Bell, Philipps, MacRae, Walker (capt); Ramsay, Love; Wilson, Ronald, Poolman, Ferrie, Logan, Moody, Stewart, Lusby

Replacements: Whitehouse, Tawake, Sutherland, Russell, McGrotty, Benson,Waters, Haddow

Sin bin: Marlow (37)