The Wasps named a strong squad for a game against long standing rivals Carlisle Cougars.

The Wasps were not at their best with a few poor decisions and dropped passes, however as ever their defence was rock solid, but their biggest problem was so was the Cougars defence. Several times Wasps were through, in moves which at other times this season have brought scores, but the Cougars kept getting back to make the try saving tackles.

The Cougars had the better of the early exchanges, and had the majority of ball pinning the Wasps in the own half, and making sure there was no room for the Kendal back division to breakaway.

After holding out, the Wasps fell behind after twenty minutes when a handling error as they attacked from their own twenty two, saw the Cougars get the ball, and with the Wasps defence wrong footed, have a two on one run in for the opening try. 0v5

The Wasps came back into the game and there was a powerful run from Hayley Hodgson, but with players in support, several times she kept going rather than pass, only to eventually be stopped.

The opening Wasps score however soon came and was from Hayley Hodgson. The Cougars tried to attack from their twenty two, but she anticipated a pass to intercept, and once she had there was no stopping her. Unfortunately the Wasps bench was slow getting Lydia Fleming’s kicking tee on, and with the clock running down Tamar Benson had to attempt to drop kick the conversion. 5v5.

The Wasps took the lead after half an hour. Tamar Benson broke through and made a strong run to the line, but again the Cougars defence got back to stop her. Whilst she could probably have reached out for the touchdown, instead she got the pass away to Hayley Hodgson in support, who went over from short range. This time no problems with the kicking tee, or for Lydia Fleming with the conversion. 12v5

This stayed the score at half time.

The Wasps had the better of the opening exchanges of the second half, but good Cougars defence and passes not going to hand, meant they could not extend their narrow lead.

From a scrum near halfway scrum half Cath Sewell spotted a gap and raced through, again the Cougars defence were able to get back to stop her close to the line, to deny her the try, and no other Wasp had managed to get up in support.

The Wasps were awarded a penalty, but against advice from their bench did not take the kick to open up a two score lead, but ran the ball, and it went wrong and the ball was knocked on.

At the scrum the Wasps drove the Carlisle pack backwards, and there was a serious injury to one of the Carlisle pack. Play was stopped and both team’s medical teams were on hand. Reportedly the player had had the same injury last season, and had done well to come back, but clearly was in a lot of pain, before being stretchered off.

Play continued but the weather had got a lot worse, with a cold wind and rain.

The Wasps were unable to take their chances, and the Cougars came back to take play to the other end of the field, helped by a number of penalties and eventually they went over to narrow the gap to 12v10.

With their unbeaten record in serious danger the Wasps responded. There was a strong run from Talia Morton-Kemsley down the right, but again the Cougars got back to stop her,

Finally the breakthrough came. After good work by replacement Allysia Hine, and another strong run by Tamar Benson, Talia Morton-Kemsley was in support on the left wing, and this time the Cougars could do nothing to stop her. 17v10.

As well as the player stretcher off, the Cougars had lost a number of others to injury, and the Wasps lost their captain for the day Hayley Hodgson, who had to be helped off, clearly disorientated after a tackle.

With how long was left unclear, due to the need for the long period of treatment, the Cougars went looking for another score to tie the game, but with the Cougars on the attack on the final whistle, the Wasps held out, to maintain their record.

Not a classic game, with the weather not helping, but a game where the two excellent defences cancelled each other out, and the Wasps did well to hold out against a strong Cougars performance, which gave them a losing bonus point and (I think) ended one 100% record, as with only three tries the Wasps would not collect a bonus point for the first time this season.

The two teams meet again at Mint Bridge in a fortnight, where the Cougars will look to go one better and the Wasps finish the season with a flourish. Hopefully the weather will be warmer and dry.

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