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GRASSHOPPERS 10 WASPS 3

GRASSHOPPERS 10 WASPS 3

Richard Green10 Mar 2014 - 12:03
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ATTITUDE, EFFORT, COMMITMENT AND ENTERTAINMENT Match report by Dave Farmer

By Dave Farmer

The vagaries of a wet dismal ‘Winter’, seemed miles away, when Wasps met Grasshoppers on Saturday, in bright warm sunshine, on a pitch that was in perfect condition. A steady breeze down and slightly across the pitch meant that there was an advantage to be playing down the minimalist slope. Wasps began the match against the elements and as has become their way of late, started at a slower pace than their opposition.
As the current League Leaders, Wasps were expecting a fast start from Grasshoppers and they were not to be disappointed. Grasshoppers started off quickly and above all else accurately and were moving the ball in an organised manner, asking Wasps many different questions and were certainly on the front foot for most of the opening exchanges. Also as we have become accustomed to Wasps were making their tackles and defending stoutly.
After a very lively start the game settled into a more controlled pace as both sides took their second wind. Wasps cleared their lines with a kick up to the halfway line. Grasshoppers won the lineout ball, set up a ruck in mid field and reversed the ball, won the next mini-ruck and moved the ball quickly through several pairs of hands to their right winger who at pace squeezed in at the corner. This had been a very well constructed set play that had outflanked the Wasps defence. The try, in many ways deserved to be converted, and an excellent kick was helped all the way by the prevailing breeze and sailed right through the middle of the posts. So after about ten minutes Grasshoppers had secured a lead that their positive start deserved. Grasshoppers 7 Wasps 0.
The score seemed to settle Wasps down and they began to win more of the ball, which as always starts from set piece situations. From this early stage Wasps were applying pressure to Grasshoppers ball at the scrummage, and the nudge and wheel were being led by Freddie, who had moved up to Loose-head at the last minute. Nick was starting to win some line-out ball, which enable Wasps to start to catch and drive ball, a tactic that held then in good stead for the rest of the game, particularly as an exit strategy when in their half.
Grasshoppers box kicked a few balls down the touchline channels, which in general were well dealt with by Daniel, who made one or two good recovery runs, which may have encouraged Grasshoppers to stop this tactic. This was probably a good thing, as the reorganisation that Wasps were soon going to have to make could well have well left them wide open to this tactic.
The game was now being played mainly near the halfway line and Wasps were certainly beginning to have the majority of possession. Their problem was using the ball won effectively. Grasshopper’s line-speed was excellent and well organised and they were pressuring Wasps backs with an aggressive in to out defensive line. Wasps tried to move the ball wider from first up rucks and bring Ryan into the line. This seemed to be beginning to work when he tried to drive through the space between the Grasshoppers outside centre and winger, with Nick free outside him. His cries of pain suggested he had a problem and a badly sprained ankle meant he took no further part in the match.
When, from just outside their twenty-two Grasshoppers again moved the ball wide and created an overlap situation, Aussie ‘Bozo’ Alex covered across made a Try saving tackle, got to his feet, picked up the loose ball and proceeded to regain another twenty-five yards before setting up a ruck for his team, we had seen the best piece of defensive play of the game with two thirds of the match to go.
Wasps had a number of sorties into the Grasshoppers twenty-two and some deceptive footwork by BJ crated some half chances, but stout defence from the men in green thwarted them. Scrumhalf Ryan, was either taken out or expertly or shepherded away from the ball as he chased a grubber kick ahead over the Grasshoppers line, and Wasps knocked-on right on the Grasshoppers line, at a ruck, as they picked and drove for the Grasshoppers line after an attacking lineout. A combination of inaccuracy, on Wasps part, and an excellently committed and organised Grasshoppers defence kept Wasps at bay. The same could be said of the Wasps defence when Grasshoppers were having their moments in the attacking third.
The half was meandering to its end near the halfway line, when Wasps were penalised at a lineout. The kick from fifteen metres in from touch was difficult but a superbly struck ball sailed through the posts and well beyond to take Grasshoppers into a ten point lead as the halftime whistle sounded. Grasshoppers 10 Wasps 0.
The second half saw a positive start from Grasshoppers but Wasps were soon controlling which end of the pitch the game was being played in. Successive pick and goes lead to Wasps being directly under the Grasshoppers posts and in possession of the ball on a number of occasions. Daniel was released one on one against the static Grasshoppers Fullback but decided to try and run through him rather take the obvious option of going either side of him and was tackled inches from the line.
The Referee reversed a penalty under the Grasshoppers posts, having not made the first decision, which led to a Grasshoppers player on the Wasps side of a ruck being removed. This was one of a number of decisions at the breakdown that annoyed players and spectators from both sides during the game, which in reality probably evened themselves out over the match. But the fact that the Grasshoppers Captain was allowed to talk non-stop at rucks and mauls throughout the game, to the Referee, whist Wasps had been told to be quiet or be Yellow Carded aggrieved the Wasps team.
A kick over the Grasshoppers backs saw BJ running free in behind them, Wasps won the ensuing ruck but were again inaccurate and knocked-on when moving the ball wide. Nick broke free from an advancing catch and drive lineout, and made thirty yards. He got slightly isolated but Wasps won the ball and Bozo crashed up the middle, before Wasps again knocked on at an inopportune moment at a ruck right under their opponents posts.
Wasps forwards were definitely going forward with their pick and go game with Luke, Douggie, Liam, Freddie and Roons leading the charge
Blayne had an opportunity to make a break inside the Grasshoppers twenty-two and was just thwarted by the strong fingertips of the last defender , who slowed him down just enough for a team-mate to be able to get back and complete the tackle. So it was clear that Wasps had created enough chances to have scored but credit must also go to the Grasshoppers defenders who to a man were committed to defending their line at all costs. The fact that this was not last gasp defence but structured and organised does them great credit.
Grasshoppers returned to the Wasps end of the pitch and had two or three line-outs close to the Wasps line but where stopped in their efforts to catch and drive, before being penalised and allowing Wasps to exit back to the halfway line.
The game finished in this area of the pitch with Grasshoppers being penalised at a lineout in the last play of the half as Wasps had been in the first half. The kick was a fraction closer than the Grasshoppers first half effort, but was still not easy. Freddie elected to go for it and Blayne struck an unerringly straight kick through the middle of the posts. To make the final score Grasshoppers 10 Wasps 3.
This had been a game of ‘near misses’ and ‘only ifs’ for both sides and Wasps certainly deserved at least the bonus point that the last kick gave them from the game, but Grasshoppers had started better, had scored a superbly taken Try and like Wasps had defended effectively for the remaining seventy minutes of the game. Both sides deserve credit for their attitude, commitment and effort throughout the match, often in trying circumstances.
For Wasps man of the match on the day was a no contest. A number of players had played exceptionally well but Bozo had carried, tackled, occasionally passed and been all over the pitch as an attacking and defending option for his team. I am pleased to report that he was also gentlemanly enough to say thank you for his pint of Fosters. We hope to get him on to grown men’s beverages soon.

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