The Valkyries have been promoted into the League Kendal have just left behind. On this performance will do very well – but may not get such lenient refereeing of the ruck again this season.

Difficult to make too many judgements on the teams relative performances, as the Wasps used a large rolling squad over the four twenty minutes sessions, so rarely had their best XV together, whilst the Valkyries seemed to use a normal match day squad, but struggled towards the end with less fresh legs, especially after losing a number of players to injury.

Most of last season’s Wasps squad seemed to be involved, plus a number of new recruits

The Wasps started the better and took an early lead with a Hayley Hodgson try, set up by a good good run down the wing by one of the new players.5v0.

Any thoughts the Wasps would dominate the game against their lower league opposition, were soon extinguished, as the Valkyries had a number of strong running players who were very difficult to tackle and were also strong at the ruck, often turning over Wasps ball (although not necessarily always legally).

After a long period of pressure the Valkyries took the lead with a converted try towards the end of the first quarter.5v7

The Valkyries added a second converted try early in the second period after a break from a scrum 5v14

The Wasps pulled a try back before half time when the Kendal pack drove their opponents off the ball at a scrum, Susie Winter made ground to set up a try for Fleur Stainton 10v14 at half time.

After the break scrums became passive, which helped the Valkyries who had been in trouble, despite their strong pack in the loose.

The Valkyries lead was extended with an unconverted try 10v19.

The Wasps pulled a try back though Claire Geldard (?) 16v19 but the Valkyries extended their lead with a converted try 16v26

The Wasps were uncharacteristic making a lot of handling errors and players were often left isolated with the lack of support runners, but as the final quarter came to an end the handing and support play sharpen.

First Claire Geldard (?) was put into space for a typical powerful run and try, with Tamar Benson adding the difficult conversion from a wide angle 22v26

After all the earlier problems, the decisive try came from some typical good Wasps handing and support play with Tamar Benson, Sarah Wilkinson, and Hayley Hodgson combining to put Claire Geldard through and whilst she was stopped Hodgson was in support to take the pass to squeeze in in the corner from short range. Tamar Benson put in another good kick from an even wider angle, but this one did not make the distance, however it was the last action of the game.27v26

* The scoreboard had the final score as 29v26. so either they or I was wrong on one of the conversions, but it makes no different to the result. Also not 100% sure which way the oppositions name should be listed as I have seen it as both,

The real League action starts at Mint Bridge in a fortnight with the visit of Crewe & Nantwich.

Earlier the Colts had had an equally dramatic victory over Kirkby Lonsdale.

Having been ahead at half time they went behind to two Kirkby tries, and were at one point down to thirteen with a Red and Yellow card, but fought back to take the lead with a penalty, then had to watch a late difficult Kirkby penalty fail to find the target.

Contrasting styles with Kirkby strong up front but the Kendal team having the upper hand behind the pack but struggling to get ball for it, and also with the similar sets of shirts saw a number of their passes end up in the wrong hands, whilst Kirkby’s close game did not experience the same problem.