A game between last seasons second and third, with both teams winning their home game last season. It turned out to be a close contest, with both defence on top.

No Claire Geldard and Hayley Hodgson, so Allysia Hine and India Brennan came in. In the pack Laura Kay came in with Kerri Jackson starting the bench.

After the wild weather of the morning, it was a bright sunny afternoon, but with a very strong warm wind.

A 1.00pm kick off as the Colts were due to be playing at 3.00 but that was called off.

The opening exchanges were all the visitors, with the Wasps pinned in their twenty-two, but as ever a rock solid defence was ensuring the well organised Sefton team could not cross the line.

The windy conditions meant both teams made a lot of handing errors, whilst the Wasps seemed to get on the wrong side of the referee conceding a string of penalties, and there were concerns of a yellow card coming if they continue to infringe.

Finally after ten minutes Sefton found a gap and got the opening score their dominance deserved. 0v7.

The Wasps came more into the game, but it was still mainly being played in their half, and Sefton’ defence was proving just as solid as the Wasps.

On the half hour, on one of their first visits to the Sefton twenty-two, the Wasps narrowed the gap. After good work by the team Sarah Wilkinson went over. Despite a wild wind and a wide angle, Sophie Postlethwaite’s conversion was close. 5v7

Things were about to get even better for the Wasps. It started badly as the re-start kick was fumbled to give Sefton a scrum. Again no idea what happened next (it was on the opposite side to me) but suddenly livewire scrum half Emma Lifshitz had the ball and was flying down the wing, and whilst chased managed to get in field to touchdown, to make Sophie Postlethwaite’s conversion slightly easier, and she made no mistake. 12v7

This stayed the score at half time.

The start of the second half was a repeat of the first, only this time it was all Wasps attacking the car park end, and the Sefton defence holding firm.

Several times it looks as if Sophie Postlethwaite was away on the left wing, only for Sefton players to get back, whilst several times if a pass had gone to hand India Bernnan on the right wing would have been away, only for the ball to go loose.

With the Wasps only holding a narrow lead there was always a threat of Sefton breaking away for a score, and it looked as if it was going to happen, only for Allysia Hine to get a cross to not only make the tackle, but drive the Sefton player into touch to end the threat.

Finally with ten minutes to play nerves were eased with a third Wasps try to widen the gap to over a single score, to avoid the late drama in the previous game. After several near missed, the ball came to Sarah Wilkinson, who had previously been quickly stopped by Sefton, but this time she danced through the defence to score. Tamar Benson added the conversion 19v7.

Both sides had chances in the last ten minutes but this was the final score.

On the basis of the first two games at Mint Bridge, the standard of the League looks very close this year. Whilst a free scoring game is entertaining, this was certainly an afternoon when defence came out on top, and whilst the Wasps may need to improve some of their handing, the tackling was as ever top quality throughout the team.

The Wasps are quickly back in action next SATURDAY at Birkenhead Park. All three Senior teams are playing, and I think they only have two pitches, so hopefully a possibility to see both Senior First XVs in action.

Forward of the Match : Amber Byers
Back of the Match : Lorne Mellonie
Opposition Choice : Emma Lifshitz

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