Kendal Wasps 31 (19) v (7) 7 Birkenhead Park Panthers

A win for the Wasps in their final home game of the season, to maintain their excellent record of just one lost at home in two seasons, but the game was a lot tougher than the score line or their opponents’ league position may suggest.

After three weeks off, including the weekend when the away game between the two teams was called off for a second time, the Wasps welcomed back a number of players who had missed the last game against Sheffield, after picking up injuries the previous week in the tough game at Southport. Lorne Mellonie, Sarah Wilkinson, Claire Geldard and Sophie Postlethwaite came back in, and in a re-organised back division, Allysia Hine moved into the centre, Tamar Benson to fullback, and Emma Lifshitz to scrum half. So the team were close to their strongest line-up, with the exceptions of Hayley Hodgson and Kate Birchall.

Birkenhead Park came into the game in eighth position with just three wins, but one was away at second place Sefton. They arrived with no coaches or medical staff, and few (no?) replacements.

The Wasps started well and had a few early chances, but the Birkenhead Park defence did well to get back and stop the scores. Sarah Wilkinson powered through. but was stopped near the line, and the defence also managed to stop her getting the ball away to Sophie Postlethwaite in support on the wing.

The deadlock was finally broken after ten minutes. Sarah Wilkinson broke through, and whilst stopped again, this time was able to get the ball away to Allysia Hine, who had done well to be in position for the scoring pass. Tamar Benson added the conversion 7v0.

Birkenhead Park came back into the game and the Wasps spent time defending deep in their own half, but held out.

The lead was extended after twenty-five minutes, after a stoppage for an injury to a Panthers player. The Wasps scrum had been on top, but Panthers had managed to retain the ball, but this time the Wasps pack drove them off their own put in. Scrum half Emma Lifshitz took the ball and went for the line, and whilst stopped short, the pack drove her over for the try (I think ?). There was a change of kicker with wing Sophie Postlethwaite taking the kick from wide out, and was not too far out. 12v0.

The referee had penalised both teams for a number of high tackles and eventually warned both captains. With ten minutes of the first half to play, the Wasps had a scrum on their own twenty two, and the Panthers scrum half was round very fast, only to be yellow carded for a high tackle.

The Wasps third try was started by a run from mid-field from back row Siobhan Lamb, she got the ball away to Claire Geldard, and stayed in support for a return pass, but Geldard weaved her way through the defence to touchdown under the posts, and Sophie Postlethwaite added the kick. 19v0

In added time for a number of injuries to both teams, Park got their first score, from a scrum near the Wasps line, which was converted. 19v7. This was the last action of the half.

The Panthers had the better of the opening exchanges in the second half, with some excellent handing keeping the ball, despite the normal solid Wasps defence.

Totally against the run of play the Wasps extended their lead after twenty minutes. Some passing behind their own line saw a desperate clearance kick got away. The Panther defence however failed to deal the ball, and Claire Geldard gathered and set off. Whilst stopped, Sarah Wilkinson was in support, and after being stopped several times in the first half. this time she outpaced the defence to score near the posts. With Sophie Postlethwaite now off the field Tamar Benson took back the kicking, and converted the try, 26v7.

The final try came from a Wasps lineout. The ball came to Siobhan Lamb, who race clear down the left touchline to touchdown. Another difficult conversion, this time from Tamar Benson was not too far out. Lamb’s reward was to be replaced immediately after the score.

Late in the game there were two yellow cards for the Wasps. First Fleur Stanton when defending near the line (not sure if for a high tackle, or illegally stealing the ball), then Sarah Wilkinson, when running out of defence (possibly a dangerous hand off ?)

The Wasps still have four League games away from Mint Bridge to come, at Manchester and Crewe & Nantwich, plus the re-arranged games at Driffield and Birkenhead.

Sefton also won well at Manchester, so the gap to second place remains five points, but the Wasps have two game in hand, so win those and match Sefton’s results, and they should return to second position.

TEAM

ACTION