This Saturday Wasps travel north towards shark infested waters to face DMP Durham Sharks for round 13 of Allianz Premier 15s.
After last week’s turnaround performance to draw with Exeter, Wasps head into this weekend’s game confident that they can continue to progress going into this weeks’ game. In their last meeting against Sharks, Wasps came out on top with an 11 try victory.
Giselle Mather has named her team to travel north which sees four changes to the starting line up including the return of Captain Claire Molloy to the back row and a return to the field for Harriet Millar-Mills.
The front row remains the same, however Millar-Mills returns from injury to start in the second row alongside Sam Monaghan. Molloy also returns to the number seven jersey alongside Helene Caux and Rowena Burnfield.
Abby Dow will lead the backs as Vice Captain from number fifteen with Jess Cooksey and Rosie Wright again outside her on the wing. The centre sees a change up with Shannon Touhey starting at twelve and Gemma Rowland moving out to thirteen. Completing the starting line up Sammy Wong and Flo Williams remain as your nine, ten combination.
A new addition to the bench this week with Wasps’ youngest player Alex Wilkinson returning as a back replacement alongside Lucy Nye and Emily Stone. After last weeks impact off the bench Melanie Combebias will return alongside the likes of Bryony Cleall for the forwards.
“It’s important that the team takes momentum from last weeks’ game against Exeter through to this week. We cannot afford to be complacent despite our previous performance against DMP Sharks, they have also seen a shift in momentum in recent performances and this time we are on their turf- we cannot take the foot off the gas. Last week we showed our strengths in defence and this week we need to take our opportunities in attack and convert the hard work around field into points.”
Abby Dow, Vice Captain
This weekend’s match action can be followed via social media channels from 12:30pm.
Team Line Up
15. Abby Dow – Vice Captain
14. Jess Cooksey (Sponsored by RSK and GinJar)
13. Gemma Rowland
12. Shannon Touhey
11. Rosie Wright
10. Flo WIlliams
9. Sammy Wong
1. Heather Kerr (Sponsored by Vibe Teaching)
2. Cliodhna Moloney
3. Maud Muir (Sponsored by Rugby Tots Thames and Bicester and Gosford All Blacks)
4. Harriet Millar-Mills
5. Sam Monaghan (Sponsored by Vibe Teaching)
6. Helene Caux
7. Claire Molloy – Captain
8. Rowena Burnfield
16. Bryony Cleall
17. Mica Evans
18. Kanyinsola Adefemiwa Afilaka
19. Melanie Combebias
20. Kay Searcy
21. Lucy Nye
22. Alex Wilkinson
23. Emily Stone
With thanks to Wasps
