Seven tries in three important matches since December 13 have shown that exciting young back three talent Sky Phimister is well and truly back up and running.
Injury kept the Scotland age-grade winger out of a large chunk of Stirling County’s Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership campaign, but she returned towards the end and played 80 minutes in the Grand Final against Watsonians on December 13 at Bridgehaugh and scored four tries in a 39-12 triumph.
That set the player – who has a Scottish Rugby development support contract this year and started her rugby journey at Armadale Academy and Livingston – up perfectly for the Celtic Challenge campaign with Glasgow Warriors.
On December 20 she scored two tries as Glasgow secured a 36-17 bonus point round one win away at Brython Thunder in Wales and then she scored one try in the 31-25 defeat to Edinburgh Rugby at Hive Stadium on December 27.
Round three pits third placed Glasgow at home at Scotstoun against second placed Gwalia Lightning from Wales on Saturday at 12.30pm and Phimister cannot wait for the first home game in the competition.
“It means a lot to play at Scotstoun,” Phimister, who is one of five players in this season’s Celtic Challenge squad that also featured in the club’s first ever fixture in December 2023, told the Glasgow website.
“I’ve been with the Warriors and playing at Scotstoun for three years now and it feels a bit like a family here. It’s always a great time here and it really feels like a club. I always say that Stirling County feels like home and Glasgow Warriors feels like home when it comes to Celtic Challenge.”
For the match, County duo Aicha Sutcliffe and Gemma Thomson, the Watsonians’ duo Freya Walker and Briar McNamara and Biggar’s Robyn Allan come into the starting XV. Nikki Simpson and Eilidh MacGilvray are added to bench.
Glasgow head coach Lindsey Smith said: “We’re excited to finally take to the field at home as we welcome a very competitive Gwalia Lightning side to Scotstoun.”
- The aforementioned Sky Phimister, fellow winger Hannah Smyth, centre Nicole Flynn and co-captain Holland Bogan are in the running for the One Four Nine Wealth Warrior of the Month for December – the first time the award has been extended to the club’s women’s setup.
- Round two of the Celtic Challenge finished on January 3 when leaders Wolfhounds defeated Clovers 24-7 in the Irish derby.
Sky Phimister is pictured – thanks to Glasgow Warriors