The guys who select the livestream matches chose well for the first showing – even if it was three rounds late. Bristol and Wasps produced another close-fought drama at the noon-day hour.
The Amber-and-Blacks showed they meant business by coming down the night before. This crafty move paid off; they pulled away in the closing stages to leave the hosts eight points adrift with only a losing bonus-point to aim for. They flooded the Wasps’ 5m area but couldn’t get the reward their efforts deserved.
So Wasps maintained their spotless record against the Bears in the Tyrrells.
The hosts will be wondering how they didn’t manage to win this game. They had greater fluency, especially in the backs, but too often a major attack on the Wasps’ line ended in disappointment. The pack in particular wasn’t able to turn their pick-and-goes into vital points.
They came close of several occasions in the first half, but a foot in touch, a ball not sticking, and they had to rely on a penalty try just before the break to take the lead (10-5).
From there, they failed to get the scoreboard moving at all, and this despite the visitors losing their mainstay, Harriet Millar-Mills, who missed three-quarters of the game through injury. Wasps deserve credit for keeping up the pressure right through. Helen Edwards nudged them in front with a penalty (10-11), but it needed yet another decisive break by Claudia Macdonald down the left wing to clinch the result.
In the remaining few minutes Wasps had to hold out against an all-out attack as the Bears hunted for a losing bonus point. It was great drama, but not the result the home supporters wanted.
How delightful for some of us to see so much quality left-footed kicking (Helen Edwards, Lucy Attwood and Elinor Snowsill (but only off the tee in her case!).
The Bears were up against a resolute defence, led by Wasps captain and Player of the Match, Kate Alder. This was a hard-fought tussle that required the referee to chat more than once to the skippers.
For a brief moment Wasps stood proudly on top of the division.
Then came the other games in quick succession.
Quins will be relieved to have got full points from another away game, but the significant number there is the 21 points they leaked. The Sharks had most of their Scots back from their triumphs in South Africa, but the side is still finding its feet as newcomers settle in.
It’s doubtful any side will be able to hold Quins for the rest of the season, given the immense power they hold up front. They had their first try from a forward drive inside five minutes, and the writing was on the wall. Two repeats followed in quick succession, and only an intercept try could hearten the hosts.
In the second half a try by Lana Skeldon and a penalty try brought DMP close to a bonus point, but it was not to be. Instead, Shaunagh Brown helped herself to two more tries to stretch Quins’ lead.
Richmond, away to Gloucester-Hartpury, played their regular trick of scoring first, then seeing their lead whittled away. The skipper Hannah Field went over and Jess Wooden, restored to the No 15 shirt, converted. But thereafter, it was mostly Glos-Pury calling the odds. Connie Powell went over shortly after, and the first half was lit up by a lovely break by the evergreen Ceri Large who fed Kelly Smith with the inevitable result – her second of the game. Only 21 more tries needed to equal her record, by my reckoning.
It took a great solo effort by another evergreen, Ro Burnfield, to bring Richmond’s total into double figures.
Tight competition wasn’t on view in Loughborough. Lightning took the opportunity to boost their points treasury by a cool 91 against hapless Waterloo.
Results:
Bristol 10 Wasps 18
DMP 21 Quins 50
Loughborough Lightning 91 Firwood Waterloo 10
Gloucester-Hartpury 31 Richmond 12
Sponsorship
Several clubs have announced new sponsorships this season, which is excellent. Glos-Pury’s ground, for example, is now called the Alpas Stadium, after the Italian company that has added to its involvement. That leaves us wondering which Italian clubs it is underwriting, if any.
