Quins v Wasps
How Wasps failed to win this game will be the subject of extensive analysis back home. They led until the 68th minute. A final penalty by Lagi Tuima that she seemed rather unwilling to take in the strong breeze went straight and true. Did the referee spot her move the ball several inches infield as she set the tee up?
Wasps may well look to two periods when they let themselves down: with a strong following wind at the start, they couldn’t fully exploit the ground gained through Meg Jones’ searching punts. They turned round only 7 points ahead.
In the last quarter they failed to get over the line after excellent teamwork, then gave away a series of penalties in deep defence.
Quins will still be taking deep gulps of relief. They were pushed off the first scrum and continued to suffer there despite the presence of three Red Roses, Amy Cokayne, Shaunagh Brown and Abbie Ward. This gave the Wasps a huge lift, and they moved the ball vigorously around to disconcert the defence. Their first reward was a try by Liz Crake from the 10,000th catch-and-drive of the season (I exaggerate). But then they let Quins counter with a 10,001st. That is their party piece. (5-5)
A sign of how Quins aren’t their true selves at present came when Wasps opted for a scrum in defence. Jones made a big break, but Quins scrambled to halt her advance.
On 27 minutes Maud Muir, who had a strong game, finished off a series of drives near the posts, and Jones converted,
Half-time 5-12
So despite bags of possession and a high skill factor, Wasps knew they would have to redouble their efforts once they had to face the slope and the wind. They started well. The pack won another penalty at a Quins scrum, then Celia Quansah went a long way before being hauled down. A moment later Wasps got the reward they deserved. They attacked hard to the right corner then, as the ball came back left, Kate Alder found an invisible gap in the hosts’ line and was over. A captain’s knock. (5-19)
Later on Amy Wilson Hardy made a magical run from deep defence through midfield to cross Quins’ 10m line – but her pals were unable to complete the job. The drama switched to the other end. Leanne Riley tapped a quick penalty, sprinted for the line, was caught and the ball went forward! That symbolised the strength of the two defences throughout.
There were more close-run things to come. A fine move saw Jones gallop to the posts, only for the referee to signal ‘crossing’. Then a huge downwind kick by Emily Scott just drifted the wrong side of the corner-flag.
At the three-quarter mark Quins got their engine working again. a series of drives was finished off by Chloe Edwards. (17-19) Time for the nervous to shut their eyes.
As 70 minutes approached, Wasps had to defend desperately. Almost inevitably one of the penalties they incurred led to the Tuima kick. So they still haven’t won this Prem 15s derby, but it was another high-class game, played at a furious pace.
Final score: Quins 20 Wasps 19
Quins: Breach; Cowell, Tuima, Green, Wilcock; Scott, Riley; Duffy, Cokayne, Brown; Ward (c), Eddie; Mew, Dainton, Fletcher
Bench: Dobson, Edwards, Brooks, Bloor, Aucken, Packer, Mayhew, Mullen
Wasps: Dow; Williams, Wilson Hardy, Alder (c), Quansah; Jones, Graham; Crake, Moloney, Muir, Cooney, Millar-Mills; McMahon, Kabeya, Molloy
Bench: West, Stock, Ransley, Monaghan, Burton, Nye, Williams, Mason
Player of the Match: Amy Cokayne
Leanne Riley celebrated her 50th cap for Quins. Not everybody remembers that she has previous…previous clubs; Aylesford Bulls, of course, but before them Saracens and Richmond. That might help to explain how Vicky Laflin marked her 50th before England’s No 9.
The other catch-up game saw Sale gain a second precious victory. But the margin of 47 points shows the desperate position DMPDS find themselves in. Rob Vickers and Jake Rodgers took over coaching responsibilities at the start of the month, but that may prove to be a belated call.
Jodie Ounsley made a welcome debut for Sale after half-time.
Results:
DMPDS 0 Sale 47 (Round 7)
Quins 20 Wasps 19 (Round 10)
Table P W L B Pts
Saracens 11 10 1 10 50
Harlequins 12 9 3 10 46
Loughborough 12 9 3 7 43
Wasps 11 8 3 8 40
Exeter 12 7 5 6 34
Glos-Pury 11 5 6 5 25
Bristol 12 4 8 6 22
Worcester 12 3 9 4 16
Sale 11 2 9 2 10
DMPDS 10 0 10 0 0
Officials:
DMP Durham Sharks v Sale Sharks
Referee: James O’Brien
ARs: David Charlton and Rebecca Rees
Harlequins v Wasps
Referee: Hamish Grant
ARs: Neil Sweeney and James Pidding
with thanks to rugbyreferee.net
Other News
A striking appointment for the Springboks
The news of Lynne Cantwell’s appointment as the first ever High Performance Manager for South Africa’s women shows real intent on the part of SAR. They could hardly have chosen a more able candidate. Cantwell has huge rugby experience beyond her record 86 caps for her country. She will join forces with director of rugby Rassie Erasmus and Springbok’s coach Stanley Raubenheimer.
This call is especially pleasing as it confirms the Bok’ intention to give full force to the 15s game. After the 2014 World Cup priority shifted to 7s. Cantwell’s appointment will help a talented but inexperienced squad to build up to the levels needed in New Zealand.
The same name turns up in the next section – to nobody’s surprise.
Ireland Team of the Decade
The Front Row Union website has revealed its readers’ choices for the top team to represent Ireland. (https://www.thefrontrowunion.com/2021/02/ireland-women-team-of-the-decade/ ). There was huge input; the final XV alone received 17,771 votes.
15 Niamh Briggs
14 Eimear Considine
13 Lynne Cantwell
12 Michelle Claffey
11 Alison Miller
10 Nora Stapleton
9 Larissa Muldoon
1 Fiona Coghlan
2 Cliodhna Moloney
3 Ailis Egan
4 Ciara Cooney
5 Marie Louise Reilly
6 Ciara Griffin
7 Claire Molloy
8 Joy Neville
A Personal Colour Problem
What’s our favourite jersey? Almost certainly the one we wore or still wear, at school, or college or club. For the chosen few it will be a national version.
When I look at the jerseys of the ten Prem 15s clubs, I have to admit to a visual disappointment, the colours of the two new teams’ kit. Exeter play in black, Sale in a blue which is a long way from sky. Neither does anything to increase the joy of nations. Sarries too play in black; Worcester in a shade of night. Why should I dislike any rugby team wearing black?
Other clubs take a different view, Loughborough way out ahead in their visually challenging blend of violet (not purple, as I always thought) and pink. Gloucester-Hartpury nailed their shirts to the Gloucester mast with cherry-and-white. This season’s Wasps shirt may be black, but the gold flashes make a striking effect. Quins remain lone exponents of quartered shirts
Of course they all have a change of strip. We can come to our conclusions whether this alternative uses a more pleasing palate. Now if results in the Prem 15s were decided by the more eye-pleasing kit…
