Wasps v Saracens
It was a lovely summer’s day for the hottest ticket in town. And it was late February.
After Wasps’ last-minute loss to Quins could they possibly overcome the champions at home? The game turned into yet another classic of the season. It was hard to predict the outcome: important players were missing due to international calls and injuries; no Irish or Harriet Millar-Mills for the home side, and Zoe Harrison was a late cry-off in red.
Wasps attacked down the slope. Within five minutes Meg Jones made a lovely outside break to go over on the right. (5-0) In typical fashion Sarries responded at once, May Campbell doing the necessary after a powerful drive. (5-5)
Jones accepted the offer of a penalty. It was the sort of day when you couldn’t afford to miss out on three gift-wrapped points. (8-5)
After a pause at the oasis both sides saw their wingers make big gains without completing the job. The pace was furious, the tackling painful to watch.
Just before the break Wasps went through a passage of play awfully reminiscent of the last moments of their clash with Quins. In deep defence they turned over possession, then strayed offside. Result: another Sarries’ try to put them in the lead. Just the sort of sequence that has kept the swarm from the honey-pot over the years.
Half-time 11-12
Poppy Cleall made a big break off the base of the scrum, then offloaded as she went down. Sarries built a position which Campbell exploited for her second try. (11-17)
The start of the usual pull-away for the champions? Not while Abby Dow is in her present mood. After an extended bout of tactical kicking, she opted to keep ball in hand and outpaced the defence to the right corner. (16-17)
The Sarries’ back row unit got to work; Cleall to Packer and she was over for a 7-pointer. (16-24) Game out of reach.
Oh, no it isn’t! Jones pots another penalty (19-24) and it’s game on. Thirteen minutes left, and Wasps work the ball to Dow again. She completes a quite astonishing run that reminds you of her effort against Wales at the Arms Park: searing pace plus multiple fends that work. (26-24)
This is where Sarries are expert, the 11th-hour experts. They raise the tempo, fling the ball about, repossess like demons – but the defences remain sure. After a long passage of dramatic action Wasps regain possession, and Jones boots the ball into the next field.
Result 26-24
This was a colossal win for Wasps, their second at home against Sarries. But it was a far more open game than the 5-0 nail-biter of three years ago. It has the effect of opening up the top end of the table, helping to prove that any side can be beaten. Exeter have been advancing their case – another big win today – but with further availabilities uncertain they may suffer more than most. Replacement players have been grateful for the chance to show their mettle at last. The closing rounds of the AP 15s could become even more unpredictable.
Results:
Exeter 76 DMPDS 5
Wasps 26 Saracens 24
Loughborough 43 Worcester 14
Gloucester-Hartpury 36 Bristol 0
Sale 5 Harlequins 45
Table P W L B Pts
Saracens 12 10 2 11 52
Harlequins 13 10 3 11 51
Loughborough 13 10 3 8 48
Wasps 12 9 3 8 44
Exeter 13 8 6 6 39
Glos-Pury 12 6 6 6 30
Bristol 13 4 9 6 22
Worcester 13 3 10 4 16
Sale 12 2 10 2 10
DMPDS 11 0 11 0 0
Officials:
Exeter Chiefs v DMP Durham Sharks
Referee: Lloyd Davies
ARs: Max Weston and Ellis Davies
Gloucester-Hartpury v Bristol Bears
Referee: Adam Wookey
ARs: Andrew Wigley and Clare Daniels
Loughborough Lightning v Worcester Warriors
Referee: Nick Wood
ARs: Jonathan Petzing and Katherine Ritchie
Sale Sharks v Harlequins
Referee: Daniel Rowlands
ARs: Elliott Lewis and Kieron Henry
Wasps v Saracens
Referee: Joe James
ARs: Nikki O’Donnell and James Clarke
with thanks to rugbyreferee.net
Notes:
For the first time all five games were livestreamed!
Emily Hunter scored a try for DMP, a very rare event
Louise Burgess marked her debut for Exeter with a cool four tries
Rosewatch
Another week closer to the 6 Nations and Scott Forrest has announced his GB 7s training squad. They are due to don their size 7 boots at the start of March, and February is famed for its lack of days. Red Roses absent from Round 13 play-lists:
Amber Reed
Amy Cokayne
Claudia Macdonald
Hannah Botterman
Harriet Millar-Mills
Laura Keates
Lydia Thompson
Morwenna Talling
Sarah Beckett
Sarah Bern
Vickii Cornborough
Zoe Harrison
