Wasps forwards produced a dominant display to secure a 38-0 victory over Darlington Mowden Park Sharks in bitterly cold conditions. The visitors raced to four tries inside 30 minutes, before a massive defensive effort in the second half to keep the Sharks from scoring.
Wasps were fast out of the blocks with a score inside 2 minutes, Hannah West intercepting the ball from short range and scoring under the posts.
Wasps forwards dominated the set piece, the next score coming from a driving maul from 15m out. Claire Molloy was on hand to finish off the powerful drive. She scored again shortly afterwards with a strong carry from Alice Sheffield who transferred the ball in the tackle to Molloy who raced in.
Wasps sealed the bonus point before the half with a remarkable effort in the scrum. With the Sharks feeding the ball on their own 5m, Wasps drove the hosts backwards, won the ball and bulldozed over to score, with Liz Crake dotting the ball down from the backrow.
Excellent place kicking from Lizzie Goulden slotting all four conversions gave Wasps a 28-0 lead at the break.
Despite early possession for the hosts it was Wasps who got the opening points of the second half. Nolli Waterman’s swerving run broke inside the Sharks 22m, before the forwards rumbled over for the score, Liz Crake on hand for her fifth try in two weeks.
The final score came on the hour mark after a sustained period of pressure. Wasps patient build-up paid dividends as Tova Derk dove in for a score in the corner.
The result means back-to-back bonus point victories for Wasps, maintaining their position in the play-off spots. They face a tough run-in to Christmas as they travel to Harlequins next week before fixtures against Gloucester-Hartpury and Loughborough Lightning.
Darlington Mowden Park Sharks are consigned to their sixth defeat of the season and remain on nine league points. They’ll look to bounce back quickly as travel across the width of the country to face Firwood Waterloo next week.
Courtesy of Wasps
