Captain Alex Callender led in typical fashion with a two-try display to record Thunder’s first win in the new cross-border tournament between team from Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
The Welsh side came into the final game of the regular season still looking for a first win of the competition and they came away with exactly that in North Wales.
Thunder have shown glimpses of what they are capable of throughout the regular season and they finally delivered the win they needed against Glasgow.
They finished the chances they created and showed the undoubted potential in a squad with a mix of Welsh internationals and players of real potential.
Callender, scrum-half Seren Singleton and wing Amy Williams crossed for the Thunder’s side in this bonus-point win against a Glasgow side still looking for a win.
Wales flanker Callender’s last ditch try in the final few minutes secured the victory in a rain-sodden Colwyn Bay after two tries by Glasgow’s Roma Fraser.
It took the home side until midway through the first half to breakdown the visitors defence when Number 8 Shona Wakely sent Callender away down the wing.
Thunder went in 17-5 ahead at half-time and survived a second half comeback by the Scots and it was Fraser’s second try that set the alarm bells ringing for the home side.
But it a lineout taken by Wales lock Natalia John and the Thunder’s driving lineout saw skipper Callender crash over for the vital try.
Alex Callender scores a late try for Thunder
Gwalia Lightning saw the chance of a major play-off place in the Celtic Challenge end with a 36-24 defeat to unbeaten Wolfhounds at Energia Park in Dublin on Saturday afternoon
The Lightning needed a win over the leaders to make the major play-offs for the top three teams but with this defeat are now on the tournament’s minor play-offs.
Both sides contributed to a compelling, entertaining and closely fought 10-try contest that was a great advert for the new cross-border competition between sides from Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Wings Katie Thicker and Caitlin Lewis, and Wales U20s skipper Jenna De Vera and replacement centre Rebecca Filippo crossed for tries for the visitors.
The home side took an early lead with a try by centre Katie Heffernan but the visitors with responded with a trademark break by scrum half Jones and 50/22 by half back partner Wilkins.
The visitors then replied with a try of their own after some superb continuity saw wing Katie Thicker cross in the corner to level the score 5-5 after ten minutes.
Wing Katie Corrigan then crossed for two quick tries to extend the home side’s lead to make it 17-05 midway through the first half.
Lightning then reminded the home side what they were about with a break by wing Caitlin Lewis break and a dominant scrum before centre De Vera crossed for a second try for the visitors.
Wilkins added the conversion before Niamh Marley crossed for a bonus point try for the Wolfhounds. Caughey added the conversion to make it 24-12 at half-time.
After the break, wing Lewis scored an 80m interception try for the Welsh side to haul Lightning back to within seven points of their hosts.
Corrigan crossed for Wolfhounds fifth try before replacement centre Rebecca De Filippo crossed for the bonus try to make it 31-24.
