Cruikshank lauds ‘hard fought win’

• 29 Jan 2024
• Features

Edinburgh Head Coach Claire Cruikshank was filled with pride after her side's Celtic Challenge triumph away against Gwalia Lightning yesterday.

Edinburgh claimed a bonus point win in Cardiff, through tries from Millie Whitehouse, Cieron Bell, Poppy Fletcher, and a last-gasp winner from Panashe Muzambe, sealing a 20-19 win on the road.

“We are buzzing after that, we are absolutely delighted because that was a very hard fought win,” Cruikshank said.

“I am proud of the team for the way they kept their composure once we went behind in the second half.

“We were happy with the way that we played in the first half, but we felt that we maybe left a couple of tries out there because we had one held up in the corner and dropped the ball near the line on another occasion.”

Edinburgh led 15-7 at the interval, having dominated the first half. Gwalia came out firing in the second period, with two quick fire tries putting the home side in the lead with the clock ticking. The capital side showed their composure to reclaim the lead in the dying stages, remaining calm under immense pressure.

“They were always going to put us under pressure after half-time and they certainly did that. Once they scored two quickfire tries and went ahead it was all about us staying composed and being calm and the girls did that.

“We knew if we were patient then we would cause them problems and the team did that to get the winning try.

“After that the team then managed the last few minutes well and in that phase of the game – and in the whole match in general actually – I thought defensively we really stepped things up in this game and that was what the win was built on.”

The win was Edinburgh’s third in four games, and second away win in Wales on the bounce – having triumphed against Brython Thunder at Parc y Scarlets.  Currently sat in second place in the table, the capital side can seal a top three spot with a win against the Clovers this weekend.

“Wales is a tough place to come for any Scottish side these days and it tends to have been over the years, so to have come down twice in recent weeks and headed back up the road with full points is great and the players should take confidence from that.

“We now have one more game to come against the Irish Clovers on Saturday, and we want to build from here and make sure we are in the top three after the split.”

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