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Wasps Ladies 1XV 27-0 Thirsk 1XV
@ Twyford Ave, Acton
12th December 2004
National Premier League Division 1
Wasps Ladies 2XV 5-0 Blaydon 1XV
@ Twyford Ave, Acton
12 December 2004
National Premier League Division 2
Wasps Ladies 1XV 13-0 Richmond 1XV
@ Athletic Ground, Richmond
15th December 2004
National Premier League Division 1
Wasps Ladies 1XV retuned 3 from 3 in ten days to go to the top of National Premier League 1 as they go into the Christmas break. The most pleasing of these results was undoubtedly the 13-0 defeat of Richmond, on their home turf, in an evening kick off last Wednesday. Richmond were on a high, having regained some of the form that they have lacked this season to beat premiership heavyweights, Clifton the previous Sunday, and though both teams were fielding rather unfamiliar starting line-ups due to long injury lists, it was Wasps who had the edge. A bruising first half, in which Richmond approached rucking with what can only be described as abandon, saw Wasps new girl Karen Jones leave the field after only 20 minutes, to receive 5 stitches to her ear. The half ended inconclusively however, with Wasps claiming the narrowest of leads after Amy Turner had kicked an excellent long range penalty on the half hour to make it 3-0.
In the second half Wasps were in danger of succumbing to Richmond’s power game, as their pack began to drive forward at mauls. However, the girls in black kept their heads. With the hosts down to 14 after a sin-binning for frequent infringements, Wasps took the opportunity recycle quick ball for spaces to begin to appear in the Richmond defence. Tries came in quick succession, Sue Day exploiting the blind side to cross for the first, and Louise Latter going over in the corner for a second. Though Richmond spent the final ten minutes attempting to batter their way back up field, Wasps kicked well to keep them out of the danger zone and close out the match.
Coach Nicky Ponsford was delighted with the performance and victory, which put Wasps 1XV at the top of the League for the first time this season:
“The best thing about this game was our team performance. We have struggled all season, with injuries, to put out the same fifteen in any consecutive weeks, so the way that the players have kept working together in exceptionally good. The defence, which we have been working on, was excellent, with back row players Raquel Eldridge and Kath Mullalley outstanding.”
Looking back on Wasps 1XV performance in the season to date, Ponsford said,
“This season has seen Wasps fighting for everything. We have not posted the same big scores as last season, but in close games we have dogged it out to get the win. At the moment our defence is winning us matches, and I don’t feel we have fulfilled our attacking potential, so that is something to work on I the New Year.”
With Wasps 2XV making hard work of Blaydon to record a 5-0 victory in National Premier Division 2 last Sunday, both teams remain well positioned to retain the league titles that they have claimed for the past two seasons.
Wasps Scorers
1XV v Thirsk
Louise Latter 2T; Rhian Williams 1T, Sarah Marsh 1T, Sue Day 1T, Amy Turner 1C
1XV v Richmond
Louise Latter 1T; Sue Day 1T; Amy Turner 1P
2XV v Blaydon
Toni Corbin 1T
For more information about Wasps Ladies, please visit our website at www.wasps.co.uk
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