The Wasps came into the game at the top of the table with three wins from their four games, whilst Southport were in eighth having lost all three games they had played so far. However injury and unavailability for various reasons, meant the Wasps team was missing a large number of players, with others playing out of their normal positions.

From the game at Birkenhead Park there was no Tamar Benson, Allysia Hine, Lorne Mellonie, Sarah Wilkinson or Sophie Postlethwaite, whilst the team also missed longer term absentees Claire Geldard and Hayley Hodgson, plus Megen Byers who was also not available.

In the back division, only Captain Kate Birchall started in the same position as last week, Emma Lifshitz moved to fullback, Amy Butler and Hailey Coutts moved from the pack to centre and outside half, and Charlie Restall and India Brennan came in from the bench to the wings, whilst Sioned Jones at scrum half came in for her first game of the season.

The pack was only slightly less changed, with Amber Byers and Susie Winter keeping the same position, Hannah Metcalfe; Fleur Stanton and Lydia Fleming start in different positions, whilst Ellie Noar and Aimee Sharpe came in from the bench, with Kerri Jackson returning to the side

Only two named on the bench. Laura Kay (who reportedly had only just flowing back from Zambia) and Katheryn McMaster.

The Wasps started well after gathering the kick off, but were penned in their twenty-two and when penalised after four minutes, Southport chose to take the points and opened the scoring with a penalty. 3v0

The lead was quickly extended with a first Southport try, following good handling, which was converted 10v0.

The Wasps came back, but could find no way through the solid Southport defence, despite the front row trio making a lot of ground.

The Wasps pack were on top at the scrums, but Southport still normally managed to retain their own ball.

Whilst the defence in the Wasps backs was not as solid as normal, with so many playing out of position, the handling in attack was probably better than in recent games. Sioned Jones at scrum half and stand-in outside half Hayley Coutts were both playing well, whilst Kate Birchall was back to the form in the centre she had shown several seasons ago, before her switch to the back row. When the defence was breached, fullback Emma Lifshitz was pulling off a string of try saving tackles.

Mid-way through the half Lydia Fleming and Amy Butler swapped places with Butler returning to her normal role in the pack, whilst for a second game, Fleming was making a lot of ground in attack.

Southport added a second try after twenty minutes with a break from a scrum. It was again converted 17v0.

Just before half time, the Wasps needed to make a change with right wing Charlie Restall forced off with an injury and did not return. She was replaced by Katheryn McMaster.

Southport made a perfect start to the Second half adding a third try after stealing Wasps ball. The touchline conversion came back off the post. 22v0

At that point it looked like it may be a long afternoon, but instead it was the Wasps who took control, but could find no way through a solid Southport defence. Southport conceded a string of penalties, which lead to the inevitable final warning from the referee, which almost as inevitably was forgotten when the next penalty for a similar offence was awarded.

Mid-way through the half Laura Kay replaced Amy Butler.

Amy Butler later returned on the wing in place of Katheryn McMaster. With the Wasps running the ball from their own half, Butler made several good runs down the wing, but each time Southport players got across to drive her into touch.

Finally with five minutes of normal time to play, the Wasps got the try their efforts deserved. Kate Birchall broke through, and got a pass (may have been slightly forward ?) away to Emma Lipshitz, who looked to be through only to be caught, but Sioned Jones was with her to take the pass to score. With neither of the normal place kickers playing, Hailey Coutts added the conversion. 22v7.

The Wasps were still not finished and in added time Suzie Winter broke away to add a second try 22v12.

There was still time to play to snatch an unlikely bonus losing point, but the chance to did not come.

Whilst not the result hoped for, Southport looked a far better team than their league record would suggest, and did very well to hold the Wasps out for so long in the second half, as if the Wasps had got a try earlier, they may have gone on to win.

As well as the team’s ability to raise their game with so many regulars missing, the real positive was for a second week was the fitness of the team. Despite having few on the bench to rotate the team, they finished far strong than the home team, despite the majority of the team playing the full eighty plus minutes.

A fourth game in a row next weekend, and a second Saturday game, as the team travel to the 3G at Blaydon to face the promoted Redkites, who went above the Wasps into second with a narrow win at Sefton, and also have a game in hand over the Wasps and new top team Driffield.

Hopefully more players will be available next weekend, whilst Claire Geldard hopes to be able to return for the Birkenhead Park game at Mint Bridge, in three weeks time.

Forward of the Match : Fleur Stanton
Back of the Match : Hailey Coutts
Opposition Choice : Emma Lipshitz

FOOTNOTE

It was later reported two of Southport's players had represented England at Rugby League, making the teams efforts to come so close even greater.

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Comes from the RFU website but the Birkenhead Park and Manchester points totals do not seem to add up.