Oct 30 - Wellingborough (H)

L 10 - 19  Report attached

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The Wasps entertained Wellingborough at Tuttles Lane expecting a hard battle to maintain their recent league form.  They were not disappointed the visitors had more experience and more physical strength. 

The visitors started well attacking the blind side with their heavier forwards and Wymondham tackled well eventually turning the ball over and working their way into the visitors 22 where they remained for several minutes.  The visitors resilience looked to be broken when Nwandu used her pace on the outside and ran clear of the defence only to be thwarted on the line by a strong cover tackle.

Wellingborough took heart from their defence and began to run strongly at the Wymondham defence which although determined was finally breached on the half hour mark and the visitors went ahead.

Wymondham took umbrage at going behind in a half that they had dominated and quickly worked their way into the visitors 22 once more.  This time strong running and a defence that exerted massive pressure soon told and Crook touched down in her first game back from her sojourn abroad.  The scores were tied at the half 5 – 5.

The start of the second half produced a couple of errors from the home side which gave possession to Wellingborough who after  quick recycling got the ball to their 10 who took a great line and sliced through the defence to score under the posts.  The conversion made the score 12 – 5 to the visitors.

Wymondham were stunned by this score and lost their shape for a period and within 6 minutes of the half conceded another try when the powerful Wellingborough centre outpaced the cover defence and scored, again converted.  19 -5 and much work to do.

The Wasps dug deep and again began to exert pressure and territory soon followed.  Strong running and quick recycling soon released the rampaging Lockwood who crashed over the line taking two of the defence with her.  The unsighted referee deemed that she was held up and did not award the try that the home support believed was scored. 

Wymondhams determination only grew at this decision and flankers Dyche and Taylor repeatedly tackled players behind the gain line pinning the visitors deep in their 22.  Possession returned to the Wasps and a good passage of play with forwards and backs linking well resulted in Lewin using her size and strength to barge her way over.  

With only a few minutes to go Wellingborough found themselves in Wymondhams 22 and with the more powerful pack looked likely to score when a five metre scrum was awarded.  The stubborn Wasp defence repelled the visitors again and again until a scrum was awarded to the home side.  Final score 10 – 19.

Squad:  Spruce, Seville, Bendall, Lewin, Lockwood, Taylor, Dyche, Pigg, Gomez, Kaciubskyj, Sweetman, Eldridge, Perry, Nwandu, Crook.