Penultimate game of a tough season for the Wasps, and the last home game. Due to the cancellation of the Birkenhead Park game (as they left the League), the previous home game was their win over Sheffield way back in mid-February, The Wasps sat a single point behind Sefton, who also had two games to go, at the foot of the table.

Liverpool St Helens were in fourth with nine wins from their fourteen games, and had won the home game against the Wasps 34v5, but their team showed a lot of changes from that game.

On a bright sunny afternoon the game was played on the main pitch.

LSH had the better of the opening exchanges and the Wasps defence did well to hold them out.

Finally play moved to the other end of the pitch and when the Wasps were awarded a penalty, despite being a long distance out, the kick was taken to the posts, but did not have the distance.

The Wasps stayed on the attack, and there was a powerful run down the left wing by Lauren Oates, only for a try saving tackle to come in on the line, and despite grounding the ball the referee who was nearby, decided she had been taken to touch first.

Then Amber Byers went for the line, but was unable to get the ball to ground for the try and LSH got a goal line drop out.

Finally the breakthrough came and went to the Wasps. Lydia Fleming, made ground and the ball was moved out to Sarah Wilkinson, then Emma Lifshitz, to wing Josie Noble who powered over in the corner 5v0

Eight minutes later the scores were tied. LSH put a kick through to the line and whilst it looked as if the Wasps defence may have it covered, LSH right wing Lucy Pinter beat them to the touchdown 5v5.

It looks as if LSH were about to take the lead with a powerful run from distance by their No.5 Ataria Tabi, only for Wasps replacement Sophie Postlethwaite to get back to make a try saving tackle.

There was concern for the Wasps as the game was stopped and Claire Geldard had to leave the field on a stretcher.

The Wasps scrum had been well on top, but LSH forwards had managed to retain the ball despite the pressure. However when a LSH move was ended by a knock on near the Wasps line, the Wasps lost the ball at the resulting scrum, which led to a second LSH try finished again by right wing Lucy Pinter. 5v10

This was the score at half time.

LSH extended their lead at the start of the second half. The ball went loose in an LSH attack and the ball was kicked up field by the Wasps. There was a good chase, but the LSH left wing Mollie Bligh did well to gather the ball, and then turned defence into attack with a run down the touchline, and with the Wasps defence out of position, scored her team’s third try. 5v15

The Wasps continued to attack, but again LSH turned defence into attack, and Lucy Pinter went almost the length of the field to score her third try, despite being chased by Emma Lifshitz. 5v20

Ten minutes later the Wasps were back in the game with good handling leading to a score in the far corner by replacement fullback on her debut Katie Cavill 10v20

With five minutes to play the game was even closer. Good passing lead to a try under the posts, finished by outside half Lorne Mellonie, with Sophie Postlethwaite adding the conversion. 17v20

The Wasps continued to press but the LSH defence held out for a narrow victory.

So disappointment at another narrow loss, with so many “if only” moments, but a really good performance against a very good team with some talented players, who showed why they are in the top half of the table.

The better news was Sefton were well beaten at home by the team above them Halifax who are the Wasps final opponents away next weekend. So with the losing bonus point the two teams are tied on thirteen points, but Sefton stay ahead on games won. Next week they have to travel to Driffield who went top with a win over previous leaders Bishop Auckland, so need to win next weekend to gain promotion. So a win or even bonus point maybe enough for the Wasps

The real positive on the afternoon was the performance of a number of the players who have joined the Wasps squad this year. Josie Noble took her try well, and Lauren Oates was unlucky to be stopped with an excellent potentially matching winning covering tackle, whilst replacement Katie Cavil had a few powerful runs when she came on for her debut. Up front Ruby Kirkham was in on opposition ball several times, to win penalties. So wherever the team is playing its rugby next season, there is light at the end of this season’s dark tunnel.

Despite her three tries Lucy Pinter was not named among Liverpool St Helens Players of the Match who were :
No.4 Maisie Dunn
Replacement Izzt Malyon
No.10 Hannah Roberts
Replacement Jess Liness

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