Glasgow Warriors produced a determined defensive performance to edge past Gwalia Lightning 15-12 at Ystrad Mynach and secure their second victory of the Celtic Challenge season.

Facing a Lightning side who sat third in the table and held an 11-point advantage over them before kick-off, Glasgow Warriors had to weather early pressure as the hosts started strongly.

Gwalia struck first in the seventh minute when Chloe Thomas-Bradley crossed, with Carys Hughes adding the conversion to give Lightning a 7-0 lead.

The Warriors stayed patient and were rewarded just before the break. A strong line-out set the platform for Aicha Sutcliffe to finish a move she helped create, powering over in the 35th minute to put Glasgow on the scoreboard.

Momentum swung Glasgow's way after half-time, and the visitors took the lead for the first time when Emily Norval capped off an impressive flowing team move to make it 12-7.

The decisive moment came in the 71st minute when Glasgow were awarded a penalty within range. Millie Warren kept her composure to slot the kick and extend the lead to 15-7.

Although Gwalia Lightning mounted a late challenge through a Chiara Pearce try, the Warriors' defence stood firm in the closing stages to see out the win.

The result marks Glasgow's second success of the campaign and their first since the opening round of fixtures. It also closes the gap on Lightning to seven points as both sides continue their pursuit of a semi-final place in the Celtic Challenge.

Glasgow Warriors

15 Millie Warren

14 Rebekah Douglas
13 Claudia McLaren
12 Briar McNamara
11 Emily Norval

10 Ceitidh Ainsworth (Co-captain)
9 Rianna Darroch

1 Poppy Fletcher
2 Aicha Sutcliffe
3 Katie Lindsay
4 Holland Bogan (Co-captain)
5 Sophie Murphy
6 Gemma Thomson
7 Eilidh MacGilvray
8 Emily Coubrough

Substitutes

16 Megan Hyland
17 Freya Gracie
18 Imogen Spence
19 Aisha Zameer
20 Freya Walker
21 Shelley Main
22 Hannah Dunnett
23 Robynn Gibson