The future of Scottish girls’ and women’s rugby took centre stage on Saturday as Edinburgh Rugby in partnership with Scottish Rugby Development hosted the latest Evolution Festival.
Over 350 young female players from across Scotland descended upon the back pitches at Murrayfield as a curtain-raiser to the Celtic Challenge clash between Edinburgh and Brython Thunder at Hive Stadium.
The Evolution Festivals are a staple of the Scottish Rugby calendar, moving across host grounds throughout the season. This one featured girls at under-10, 12, and 14 levels.
In the big match afterwards, Edinburgh went down 14-7 to Brython, the capital outfit taking one bonus point from this one but they were after a lot more.
On the same day, Glasgow Warriors battled until the last minute to earn two bonus points, but they lost out to the Clovers 38-31 in the Celtic Challenge at Scotstoun.
With Wolfhounds beating Gwalia Lightning 44-10 at Virgin Media Park in Cork on Sunday, it all means that, after six rounds of regular season action, Glasgow are fourth in the six-team standings on 11 points and Edinburgh are fifth on six points having recorded just one win apiece so far.
With unbeaten leaders Wolfhounds on 30 points, Gwalia on 24 and the Clovers on 22 it looks like Glasgow, Edinburgh and bottom side Brython (5 points) will be battling it out for one remaining semi-final spot when things resume on February 14 after a break.
There are four more regular season rounds to go before the semis and then the final on March 28 at the Hive.
On Sunday, just like in the Celtic Challenge the day before, two away wins were recorded.
Heriot’s had defeated Cartha Queens Park with a bonus point seven days before, but they had to do with two bonus points in defeat this time around with last year’s beaten finalists Hillhead Jordanhill coming out on top 27-24 after a cracking tie.
Siobhann McGinley, Beth Tobin, Lara Bardelli, skipper Roma Fraser and Hannah Dunnett scored the tries for Hills in the bonus point win at Goldenacre with Carla MacDonald kicking one conversion.
Corstorphine Cougars, with Joel Blanchfield now at the coaching helm, opened up their campaign with a 26-12 bonus point win at Biggar.
Lilly Campbell, Dev Anderson, Olivia Barry-Wilson and Caitlin Hadley were their try scorers at Hartree Mill with Lisa Martin kicking three conversions.
Biggar have now lost two from two and, in this game, Elise Knights and Iona Kane were the try scorers with Zoe Mitchell converting one.
With Premiership champions Stirling County having opted out of the event, it is a six-team tournament this year and, after five league phase fixtures each, the top two will head to the final on Silver Saturday on April 25 at Murrayfield.
The next fixtures in the competition are on February 21 while the Regional Play-Off Series returns this coming Sunday.
Action from the latest Evolution Festival is pictured – thanks to Edinburgh Rugby