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Wasps FC 1st XV prevail in the end

Wasps FC 1st XV prevail in the end

Richard Green14 Apr 2015 - 13:56
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Wasps FC 50 - UCS Old Boys 0

The second half was dominated by Wasps who took firm control.
- Ryan Hunt

Match report by Ryan Hunt

After a good week of training topped off by a very intense team run vs the Wasps Ladies team the squad were very well prepared ahead of the winner takes all clash against UCS Old Boys RFC. With Twyford Avenue hosting the Middlesex Merit Table Finals and a Vice Presidents Lunch it promised to be a great atmosphere.

Prior to the game the magnitude of the game was not lost on the players with Wasps legends Geoff Richard and Ian Bell coming into the changing room to stir up some motivation which they achieved calmly and eloquently.

With the wind going almost straight across the pitch UCS kicked off and as has been a theme of the season the kick off was not dealt with. This allowed UCS to keep the ball and move forward and ultimately apply enough pressure to win a penalty straight in front of the posts. Fortunately it was missed and Wasps were able to get out of their 22 with a drop out. Following a good chase Wasps were then able to exert pressure and win a very similar penalty, unfortunately the result was also similar and after 15 mins the scores remains even.

Wasps were showing great adventure in their fast offloading game however inaccuracies had scuppered a number of opportunities. Following a breakdown in midfield the ball was passed out to Bryn who found himself in a little bit of space and driving forward through a number of defenders he got us firmly on the front foot. The forwards then took control and continued to get past the gainline toward the tryline. The ball was then moved to Holgate 5 metres out who inevitably crashed over under the posts. Following a successful conversion from Jonny Wasps were 7-0 after 16mins.

The next 20 minutes promised much but once again decision making around when to offload and when to play the phases let us down at crucial moments. However, it all seemed to come together in the last 5 minutes of the half with 3 tries. The first of which came from a series of strong pick and go’s culminating in Captain Hugo brushing aside the UCS winger to dot down in the corner.

The next was very similar to the first of the game but rather than the towering presence of 2nd row Holgate bundling over under the posts it was fly half Jonny taking four defenders over with him.

The try of the first half was saved for the last play of the half – a turnover on half way moved quickly through the hands to Holgate who had a 2v1 in front of him and through carrying the ball in two hands (for once) and showing the dummy he strolled in untouched for his second of the day. This left an acceptable but improvable first half score of 24-0. The main messages at half time were to favour possession over loose offloading, closer support and to move the ball wider once go forward was achieved.

The second half was dominated by Wasps who took firm control. The first of the second half tries came from some great adventure and support play, the ball came out to Jonny with Johan on his shoulder. The defence were clearly worried about the big South African and left gaps elsewhere which was expertly identified by Jonny and BJ where the former threw a miss pass to the latter on an angle who ran in for our 5th of the day.

Jonny then added his second try of the day with some great link play and support down the left hand side. Not to be outdone Hugo then added his second with a try similar to BJ’s cutting back on an angle against a ball watching, drifting defence.

The next period of play then gave Wasps an opportunity to show their resilience and character. Holgate was shown yellow for what seemed like great Guard defence but was deemed to be high. Johan was also substituted with a shoulder injury so the pack had to be reshuffled.

The team then repelled a number of lineouts and mauls close to our line and when a couple of the UCS players lost their heads the black and yellow kept theirs. With the team back up to 15 men there was just enough time to get our eighth and last try of the day through dynamic work down the left to set up Conor and with a fantastic conversion from BJ the final score was Wasps 50-UCS 0.

Every member of the squad contributed to this emphatic victory. The front five gave a dominant platform to work from with Johan and Ed scrummaging very well and getting us vital go forward throughout. In difficult conditions for Lineouts Ed still managed some excellent throws.

Luke was made angry and turned into his alter ego – Gigantor and was a human wrecking ball for the second half. Holgate was everywhere and Alex put in a very well rounded performance carrying, tackling and rucking very efficiently.

The back row of Dougie, Hugo and Auggy was very well balanced with Dougie carrying as hard as a prop with the speed and agility of a back row, Hugo ‘he does it every time’ Lewis providing a good link between the backs and forwards and deservedly getting 2 tries and Auggy for a fantastic game at 7 working tirelessly getting multiple turnovers.

In the backs Kai was superb at 9 with great variety in his game leaving the opposition guessing. Jonny's strong running game and an eye for a break suited the day with line break after line break setting up a number of tries and claiming two for himself. In the centres Bryn and BJ mixed up great distribution with strong running to help the team go both through and around the defence.

On the wings Daniel and Conor were brilliant, given a clear directive to get involved they were all over the pitch in support with great determination and decision making with ball in hand. At full back, despite carrying an injury Ryan made some typically strong runs and big fends.

As the for substitutes, all coming on in the second half they all made very strong contributions very quickly. Ben on the wing gained good yards as always, Luke in the 2nd row gave us the strength of a 2nd row with the energy and pace of a winger and Jamie at 9 controlled the game for the final 10 with some strong decision making and an exceptional box kick close to our try line.

Credit must go to UCS who as we expected never gave up and at times gave us some real problems with their powerful forward game. Good luck to them next season in a new league.

Huge thanks must go to all of those that came to watch especially to those VPs that attended. Geoff and Belly really set the tone for the day and a special mention to Phil Mannall who has been an incredibly loyal supporter of ours all season and the boys have thoroughly enjoyed having you around.

Despite a long hard season the team have ultimately dug deep enough to stay in the league and with such a score suggests the team are capable to be much stronger in the league if consistency in availability, team selection and training is achieved.

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