Saracens Amateur RFC Limited

Wasps Ladies 19 Saracens Ladies 22

Moments after Saracens kicked off, Wasps scored and converted in the right corner. Wasps were intent on laying their mark, forcing Saracens onto the back foot.

However, Saracens fought back quickly. Quick hands down the back line, drawing defenders along the way to open up space, gave them extra numbers on the left and allowed winger Emilie Bydwell to put the first five points on the board for Saracens.

A skilful steal in a Wasps lineout on the 10m created a strong attacking opportunity, pushing past the gain line to the 22m line. The ball was turned over in a ruck, but Saracens’ fast defensive line forced Wasps to commit a handling error, winning a scrum on the 22m.

Saracens showed their dominance in the scrum, pushing Wasps back and clearing the ball out of the traffic. Simple passes down the back line creates a second try-scoring on the left wing, but an unsympathetic last pass forces a knock on.

Some powerful hits forced the ball back into Saracens possession. Lock Poppy Cleall ran a great line to break through Wasps defence, gaining 10m. The ball was recycled quickly out to the left wing where flanker Maggie Alphonsi was hanging to create the extra number, giving Saracens a three point lead with her try in the corner.

A successful Wasps lineout on the 5m threatened the try line. Decoy runners drew in Saracens defenders, but quick reshuffling made sure Wasps didn’t advance past the gain line.

Another Wasps lineout brought the ball to their fly-half, who kicked the ball across the pitch and over the try line. The ball bounced laterally back from Saracens grasp, but Wasps were unsuccessful in grounding the ball.

Quick Wasps defence challenged Saracens’ attack, but an offside gave Saracens the penalty. Full-back Lauren Cattell opted for a kick at goal, but windy conditions prevented her from slotting in the three-pointer.

Saracens were forced to crash it in phase after phase from the turnover, but eventually outside centre Hannah Casey picked a great line, gaining 20m. She was stopped by a well-placed Wasps tackle, but Saracens scrum-half Jessica Ryan was quick to recycle the ball out down to the left wing with penalty advantage on Saracens’ side. A knock on moments before the try line brought the game back to the penalty which was kicked out for a lineout on the 5m, the final play of the first-half.

Alphonsi’s break through Wasps defence right from kick-off was a promising start to the second-half, but a forward pass forced a turnover on the 10m.

Wasps were awarded two kickable penalties in a short period of time for ruck offences picked up by the referee, but both attempts slid just wide of the posts.

Wasps continued their attacking streak, forcing Saracens to scramble in defence. Quick hands moved the ball to Wasps’ right wing, and they crossed the whitewash to dot the ball down in the corner.

Skilful footwork from hooker Vicky Fleetwood broke through Wasps defence, but lack of support forced a knock on when she tried to offload the ball. However powerful scrummaging from Saracens gave them the second put-in.

Another try-scoring opportunity down the left wing was unsuccessful as an unsympathetic pass forced the ball out for a Wasps lineout on the 5m.

Strong runs from Casey and Cleall made good metres and allowed Saracens to go through some solid phases. The ball was released from a ruck on the 5m to the right-hand blindside, allowing Cattell to score right in the corner.

From the restart, Fleetwood made another impressive break through Wasps’ line, but lack of support again forced a turnover. Good scrummaging gave Saracens a penalty on the 10m. Cattell opted for the kick, but the ball didn’t make it through the posts.

Another fast break from Fleetwood made tremendous gains for Saracens. No. 8 Sonia Green’s pickup from a Saracens scrum brought the ball up to the try line, which Alphonsi dotted over the line minutes before the final whistle.

A quick Wasps penalty soon after the reset shipped the ball out left, and they were able to score in the dying seconds of the game. The try was converted by their fly-half, bringing the final score to 19-22 to Saracens.

Match Report by Vicky