TOP TWO AFTER A TRIP TO THE TOON.

After an impressive showing defeating York at Mint Bridge last Sunday, Kendal Ladies Wasps hit the road for the third time already this season, heading to Newcastle to face Novocastrians 2nd XV. Unavailability and injury had stretched resources to the limit this week as the ladies made the long trip with only 15 players!! Already looked at as a potential banana skin fixture, this was quite a task as the hosts boasted a luxury of a full bench and the decision to leave people out!! They even borrowed the lake district weather, a steady drizzle turned into a constant deluge and the wide pitch soon became heavy and greasy underfoot.

Kendal made a strong start and looked to make the hard yards and build phases. Novocastrians were a constant nuisance around the breakdown, and often chose to look for territory in the early exchanges from turnover ball. Approaching 15 minutes, and following some great ball retention and a sustained period of attack around the opposition 22, Wasps opened the scoring when the ball was spun wide after the opposition defence was sucked in, Lauren Harkness holding width as defensive numbers ran out to score out on the right. A well worked try where simple hands were enough. Tamar Benson was narrowly unsuccessful with the difficult early kick. This stung Novos into action, and they then spent a reasonable period of time deep in the Kendal 22, where they were happy to use the full width, and nearly gained quick reward as they drove for the line and were held up in goal. Kendal attacked the defensive scrum, one of a number of strong efforts at key times in the set piece by the front row in particular, and forced an error that allowed a turnover ball to exit to touch. After forcing a second mistake from the resulting lineout, Wasps then punished this to the maximum as quick turnover ball released Hayley Hodgson, who broke the line and charged clear to score. Tamar Benson added the extras this time for 12-0 after 25 minutes. After ten more minutes where both sides saw some entertaining rugby break out despite the filthy conditions, it was Novos who got back into the game in the shadows of half time with a try in some bizarre, if not contentious circumstances. A Novos player was visibly, and audibly injured in a tackle as she was stopped in the corner, and as the 4 nearby Wasps players stopped anticipating the whistle that was on its way to the referee's mouth, this never arrived and the try was scored by the supporting attacker from the very next phase. After the unsuccessful conversion, Wasps closed out the half for 12-5 at the interval.

As the second half got underway, the hosts had made changes to look to build on their strong finish to the first, and the introduction of some strong willing carriers running off an intelligent fly half made some immediate inroads. Kendal repelled these thrusts, and once again were first on the scoreboard. A ball was stripped in the tackle and immediately tidied up in midfield and secured. Whilst Novos had seemingly numbered up well in defence, Fleur Stanton leapt into attack quickly and released Hayley Hodgson up a mismatched blindside, where she saw a mass of space to score under the sticks for Tamar Benson to convert easily for a 19-5 lead. The daylight on the scoreboard soon became a lot clearer as Kendal, now confident with ball in hand, started to build the phases. Willing carries from the forwards, Susie Winter,Anna Waite and Laura Mason all prominent, made huge holes as the attack was carried towards the left, and as the ball was spun back to the right Rowan Boardley joined the line from full back and glided clear of a defensive line that again appeared to have numbered up well. 24-5 after the conversion was unsuccessful. However, Tamar Benson did not let that bother her, as for the next 5 minutes it was all hands to the pump in defence for the Wasps, as she and her team mates willingly chopped down opponents. Bodies were on the line as Sarah Muncaster had to leave the field with a head injury, a sad end to another excellent shift from the often understated front row. Uncontested at scrum time for the rest of the game, but this did not dilute some really decent rugby from both sides as they battled on. It was Kendal who struck next with what proved to be the decisive score. After another string of forward forays got the go forward this dangerous backline crave, Tamar Benson received the ball in midfield and floated a delicious cut out pass over the top to find Lorne Mellonie on the left. She did superbly well to gather, and after some quick feet opened up a gap, eased away from the cover and ploughed over in the corner for a well deserved first try in the Black and Amber. 29-5 after the conversion was missed. With the game now well into the final quarter, Novos emptied the bench as they put a huge shift in chasing whatever they could salvage from the game. They added two further tries in the final stages, the first in the far left corner when they did well to rip the ball and spin over from a driving maul the Wasps pack initially seemed to have repelled, and a second on 77 minutes when a great line was cut from deep to score down the right. After Wasps saw out the remainder of the game with some disciplined retention, the referee called time on an excellent advert for the women's game, played in great spirits on a difficult afternoon. 29-15 final score, as Kendal Ladies Wasps make it 4 from 4, 3 of these out on the road.

Coaches view (James Mackereth)

A really great game!! A collective effort was all I could ask for today, and that's what I got. We had our moments where we overplayed at times, on another day we might have got giddy and chased the glory, but we reined ourselves in, managed the game and ourselves, and did a professional job against a team who deserve a lot of credit, they're a far better side than what their league position says and I've no doubt they'll turn that around. I'm personally delighted for the ladies today. I'm lucky to have two captains in my team who refuse to take a backward step, and I thought Laura Mason carried immensely well, as she does each week. I also thought our tight five put in a huge shift today. Zoe Fox made her debut at hooker today and really stood up, Sarah Muncaster had one of her best games in a Wasps shirt full stop, and when you talk about combinations our engine room of Vicki Nelmes and Amy Butler just never stop working hard around the park. Susie Winter likewise, is the very definition of workrate, and these are the players who are the absolute fabric of what our game is about. Cath Sewell had an excellent game today, kept us playing quickly, likewise Allysia Hine and Lauren Harkness in an unselfish and clinical manner, and our points scorers today took their chances in a really clinical fashion at some really key points. I'd like to save the final word for Anna Waite, who really is the absolute benchmark of the level of performance amongst this team right now, and our players of the match today, who were Fleur Stanton and Lorne Mellonie. Perhaps two of the most underrated players around this set up, absolutely wonderful performance by both and well deserved. Some huge games coming up for these ladies, keep up the good work and the good times will continue!! Looking forward to some home fixtures now too, and with people to come back in exciting times ahead perhaps. Thanks also to those who made the trip across, providing support, childcare and entertainment. And Richard Sanderson too, thanks for joining us