Celebrations are in full swing at Twyford Avenue with a win for both Wasps FC Ladies Teams over Richmond Women. The 2XV put a 33-22 win over the London Rivals and the 1XV left the scoreboard at 44-17 with tries from Amy Atkinson, Hannah West, Louise Dodd, Amy Cokayne and Vicki Jackson.

The game got off to a slow start with both teams making errors and conceding penalties as the other fought defensively to mark territory on the pitch. In minute 10, making headway out of their own half with the ball in hand, Wasps Ladies showed their sting with a hard-fought try from winger Amy Atkinson. In response, Richmond turned up the heat and put the pressure on Wasps at the breakdown, earning them possession, the ball and eventually a try to equalise.

The final 10 minutes of the first half saw a try a side from the London Rivals. The first from Richmond who edged themselves to glory in the corner. The second at minute 32 from Wasps centre Vicki Jackson who took the team to a level 10-10 seconds after the restart. Minutes after her glory, Vicki Jackson was given a yellow card after an intercept which didn’t quite execute.

A slow starting, yet intense first half left Wasps FC Ladies with work to do. Richmond’s work at the breakdown had denied Wasps of space and time to play, their defence also on full volume- a very different side to that of December. However, with a bee in their bonnet Wasps returned to the field ready to sting.

The first 10 minutes saw two tries from the home side. The first in the 41st minute from Amy Atkinson with a massive run from the half way. The second from Louise Dodd playing no. 10, who found a gap in Richmond’s defence to take it right under the post. Back with 10 men on the field and with a 10 point lead, Wasps were starting to take ownership of the game. In minute 65 Wasps increased their lead- a catch and drive from a line out on the 5m saw Hannah West reign in the points.

Eager not to let the score run away from them, Richmond took play into Wasps half. Wasps gave away a penalty on the 5m, which saw Richmond capitalise and add to their score. With a successful conversion the board sat at 25-17 with 15 left to play.

The final 10 minutes saw a momentous display of Rugby from Wasps Ladies, running in three tries to complete their victory. The first from Louise Dodd who received the ball off a scrum and dodged her way through Richmond’s defence to score under the posts. The second came from a catch and drive off a 5m line out and this time it was hooker Amy Cokayne who crossed the whitewash to glory. The final try came in the 79th minute and final play of the game- Tova Derk received the ball on the half way and found a gap in Richmond’s defence to sprint the try in under the posts! A successful conversion from Louise Dodd set the final score at 44-17.

After a close first half, it was all to play for between the old rivals, but with a sting in their tail, Wasps took the glory, scoring 6 tries in the second half. With one game left before playoffs – Wasps are sat comfortably in third place in the table which they intend to stay through their final game versus Firwood Waterloo next weekend.