Another good win

This game had originally been due to be played at Harrogate, but as they had been unable to fulfil the game at Mint Bridge earlier in the season, this one was switched to a home game for the Wasps.

Despite their mid-table position, Harrogate’s only loss had been to leaders Sheffield, and having played at a higher level last season, some of their squad would likely to have experience at that level. So on paper, a very tough test for the Wasps.

After the disappointment of the late postponement last weekend, there were a few changes to the squad with no Captain Kate Birchall or scrum half Cath Sewell, but Hayley Hodgson was back with Laura Reid and Siobhan Lamb joining the forwards, and Emma Lifshitz moving from fullback to scrum half, with Tamar Benson moving to fullback.0v5

A bright sunny afternoon, but with an icy wind blowing across the pitch.

The size of the challenge to the Wasps was clear from the opening minute, when a powerful run from halfway by Harrogate captain and No.8 Charlie Goode opened the scoring 0v5.

The Wasps were back on level terms after ten minutes. Tamar Benson took the ball inside her own half, and set off on an excellent run breaking several attempted tackles, to power through to score and headed under the posts to make her own conversion easier, to give the Wasps the lead 7v5.

Harrogate were keeping the ball through multiple phases, and were also stealing a lot of Wasps ball at the breakdown, to deny the Wasps chances, whilst their defence was as solid as the Wasps.

The lead was extended after twenty minutes with a great passing moved, with a number of players getting the ball away when tackled, to stretch the Harrogate defence. When the try came it was from Hayley Hodgson, but probably from her shortest distance ever, as the ball was taken to line by the forwards, and when it came back, Hodgson was in the scrum half role, to pick up and stretch out to get the touchdown. 12v5

Harrogate hit back ten minutes later, following a penalty they scored from short range, and with the conversion added the score was tied at half time. 12v12

The Wasps made a number of changes at half time.

It took twenty minutes of the second half for the deadlock to be broken. Some of the advice from the Wasps coaches at half time, was to look to run into space rather than at players, and one of the replacement forwards did just that, and found gaps to make a long run from near halfway. Whilst stopped it set up the position for a try from short range (sorry no idea who). Tamar Benson added the conversion. 19v12.

The Wasps extended their lead with a second Hayley Hodgson try with a run down the right wing after a penalty. 24v12.

Harrogate struck back with quarter of an hour to play. A loose Wasps kick was run back, and vice captain centre Adaoha Akwiwu outpaced the Wasps defence and the conversion was then added 24v19.

Five minutes later the Wasps pulled clear again, more slick passing, was finished off one handed by Hayley Hodgson. 29v19.

The final try came in added time, from replacement Ellie Dixon (?) who powered down the right wing and outpaced the Harrogate defence to score. 34v19.

A far from flawless Wasps performance, but a very good victory against a team with a really talented back division, who despite having a lot of ball, had few chances.

The big plus for the Wasps was again the strength in depth of their squad. Without tough tackling captain Kate Birchall, and experienced scrum half Cath Sewell, plus injured Suzie Winter (who hopes to be back next month), and powerful wing Claire Geldard picking up an injury which clearly affected her normal game, and the half time changes, those who came in signalled they were more than ready for a starting position if needed.

As ever the mid-field trio of Sarah Wilkinson, Hayley Hodgson and Tamar Benson caused problems for the opposition, whilst Emma Lifshitz at scrum half played really well, keeping the ball moving quickly, taking on the defence, and pulling off some key tackles, including a try saving one in the first half.

The Wasps are next in action again at Mint Bridge in a fortnight to Sefton, one of only two teams to have beaten them this season. So another big challenge.

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