Doyle scores four as Wolfhounds thump Thunder

Celtic Challenge

Wolfhounds 57 (26)

Tries: Doyle 4, Dalton 3, Burke, Tarpey Cons: O'Brien 6

Brython Thunder 5 (0)

Tries: Healan

The Wolfhounds continued their resounding defence of the Celtic Challenge title with a nine-try victory over Brython Thunder in Dublin.

The host's head coach Neill Alcorn was able to include Irish international Aoife Wafer in his side for the first time in this campaign but it was another returning player who stole the show with Anna Doyle crossing the whitewash four times on her comeback from a shoulder injury.

The winger bagged a first-half hat-trick after Irish international centre Aoife Dalton had opened the scoring as the Wolfhounds had their bonus point before the turn.

Two minutes after the restart, Dalton scored her second and the Wolfhounds' fifth after good work from the forwards in the tight exchanges.

The pack again were to the fore for the side's sixth try as they won the scrum penalty that preceded Doyle's fourth of the afternoon.

A strong maul saw replacement hooker Kelly Burke barge her way over the line with 20 minutes to go while another substitute, Leah Tarpey, then got in on the act with an intercept score.

Having already scored four, former sevens international Doyle turned provider with a fine break that allowed Dalton to complete her own hat-trick underneath the posts.

After a 48-0 loss to the same opposition in Llanelli last weekend, the Thunder grabbed their first score of the double-header when, after sharp work from scrum-half Seren Singleton, Gabby Healan scampered over in the final minute.

The win takes the Wolfhounds five points ahead of their Irish rivals the Clovers in the standings having played a game more, while the Thunder remain rooted to the bottom of the table with losses in each of their five games.

Line-ups

Wolfhounds: Stacey Flood; Anna Doyle, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Ella Roberts; Dannah O'Brien, Jade Gaffney; Niamh O'Dowd, Maebh Clenaghan, Christy Haney, Alma Atagamen, Cliodhna Ni Chonchobhair, Claire Boles (capt), Erin King, Aoife Wafer.

Replacements: Kelly Burke, Caoimhe Molloy, Sophie McAllister, Molly Boyne, Poppy Garvey, Brittany Hogan, Leah Tarpey, Rachael McIlroy.

Thunder: Niamh Terry; Hannah Lane, Ellie Tromans, Hannah Bluck, Eleanor Hing; Hanna Marshall, Seren Singleton; Lowri Williams, Evie Gill, Katie Carr; Robyn Davies, Natalia John (capt); Finley Jones, Lucy Isaac, Jess Rogers.

Replacements: Poppy Hughes, Stella Orrin, Elan Jones, Kira Philpott, Anna Stowell, Ffion Davies, Gabby Healan, Amy Williams.