A first game back in the North League and a win, but it was close and Peterlee & Horden will probably feel they should at least got a draw, but the Wasps took more of their chances and defended well against a very strong team.

A return to the Wasps team for Fleur Stanton, after missing the whole of last season and the latter part of the previous season with due to injury, joining two others of the original Wasps squad, Amiee Sharpe and Sarah Wilkinson in the team, to add some experience to the squad, which saw debuts at half back for Esme Webb and Isla Ford, and on the wing for Cleo Kerslake

The Valkyries had finished fourth in the league last season so with Keswick and Ryton moving up, should be one of the stronger teams in the league this time, so a good test for the new look Wasps.

The Valkyries started the stronger, but the Wasps came back and there was a chance when new scrum half Esme Webb quickly took a penalty, and made ground into the twenty two, but no one had followed in support, and a penalty was conceded

The Valkyries were temporarily reduced to fourteen after twenty minutes following a yellow card for fullback Helen Matthews, following a clash of heads in a tackle

The opening score finally came after twenty five minutes of play. There was a good run down the left wing by Sophie Postlethwaite, and when stopped the ball went to Sarah Wilkinson but she could not force her way over, and when the ball was recycled there was a knock-on to give the Valkyries a scrum. Until this point the two packs had been even at the scrum, but when it mattered the Wasps were able to drive their opponents off the ball, and Suzie Winter picked up to score 5v0.

Five minutes later the Valkyries levelled the scores with a try from centre (although originally selected in the pack and co-captain) Tasmin Thompson from short range. 5v5.

The Wasps made changes bringing Lorne Mellonie and Lauren Oates, and it had an almost immediate impact.

Esme Webb again took a penalty quickly, but this time Sarah Wilkinson was in support to make ground, then got a pass to Lauren Oates who powered down the wing to score. 10v5

The final score of the half also went to the Wasps. Fullback Josie Noble made a break down the left wing, and got the ball to Sophie Postlethwaite in support. She appeared to be surrounded by Valkyries players, but somehow found a gap. Once away she had just enough to outpace the chasing player, to score under the posts, 10v10 (I was convinced the flags went up for a successful conversion but it appears not)

The forecast rain came at half time, making handling more difficult.

The Valkyries narrowed the gap quickly with a second try by back row Jayme Calvert 17v10, and the Wasps then spent a long period penned in their own twenty two, and a further Valkyries try seemed inevitable, but the Wasps held out. A Wasps turnover and kick out of defence finally relieved the pressure.

The Valkyries were soon punished for failing to turn pressure into points with the Wasps adding a fourth try. Lorne Mellonie made a break and went to pass, but instead held on to the ball and cut inside to score. The conversion came back off the posts. 22v10.

The Valkyries came back again. After more pressure in defence the Wasps managed to hold the ball up over the line to force a goal line drop out. However the kick was collected by Valkyries fullback Helen Mathews to set up the try to bring her team within a score 22v17, with a quarter of an hour still to play.

The Wasps had chances to make the game safe with a period on the Wasps on the attack in the twenty-two. It looked as if Jasmine Cox had scored, but she had been stopped before the line and penalised for failing to release, before continuing.

There were frayed nerves as referee Danny Airey played a lot of added time for a number of injury stoppages, with the Valkyries making progress, and the Wasps conceding a string of penalties.

Eventually the Valkyries a mistake allowing the Wasps to end the game, and celebrate a winning start to their season.

Plenty of room for improvement, especially to return the ball at the breakdown, but if the back division can be put in space, they showed they will score.

As well as the conversion that wasn’t, the RFU site has a number of the tries in the wrong order but confident I did get those right (I think !)

PLAYERS OF THE MATCH

Three Well Deserved Choices

ACTION

TEAMS

(*) Debuts
(cc) Co-captain
(c) Captain
(VC) Vice Captain

OTHER RESULTS

a big win for promoted Stockton Rockets, who won NC 2 North with an unbeaten record (one draw) last season

TABLE

Not sure what Harrogate have done but they appear to already have a ten point deduction ?

EXTRAS

Other's named in this seasons squad but not involved this afternoon include