Clinical Wolfhounds win at Hive Stadium

While the scoreline favoured the visitors, it did not fully reflect the physical battle at the set-piece, where the Edinburgh pack put in a dogged shift and often dominated their Irish counterparts at scrum time.

However, the Wolfhounds – packed with seasoned internationals – proved too strong on the day, with their strong kicking game and expansive backline play proving to be the decisive factors.

The match began as a high-intensity affair with just two points separating the sides after the opening twenty minutes.

The Wolfhounds were the first to break the deadlock, taking the lead through a powerful effort from Erin King.

Edinburgh were quick to respond, however, through the always-dangerous Cieron Bell.

The winger showcased her finishing instinct by latching onto an offload and beating two defenders on a direct line to the whitewash Her try brought the hosts back into the contest at 5-7 and energised the Hive Stadium crowd.

As the half progressed, the Wolfhounds’ experience began to tell. They began to stretch the lead through clinical execution, with Aoibheann Reilly and Stacey Flood both getting in on the scoring action.

Edinburgh continued to threaten when they had possession in the tight, but they struggled to turn promising lineout positions into positive plays, often seeing hard-earned territory wasted.

Just before the interval, Edinburgh grabbed their second score of the afternoon as Talei Tawake wrestled her way over the line following a sustained period of pressure. Despite the effort, the visitors headed into the break with a commanding 12-33 lead.

The second period was a testament to Edinburgh’s grit as they battled to find a way back into the game. However, the Wolfhounds’ defensive organisation was superb, with their backline proving to be an impenetrable wall against the capital attacks.

Despite the home side’s best efforts to keep the contest competitive, the Irish side continued to utilise their tactical kicking to pin Edinburgh back and stretch the scoreline.

The visitors added several more tries in the final quarter to finish 12-50 winners, leaving Edinburgh with plenty of positives from their set-piece but a clear indication of the clinical standard required at the top level of the Celtic Challenge.