Travelling Triumph - Feb 13 Match Report

The long journey to Essex (same exit as Stanstead airport!) and delayed start, didn’t do any harm to the Wasps spirit or physical preparedness.

After a tough, grinding opening to the match, man of the match Benedict broke proceedings open with a strong, stomping run up the middle of the pitch. Finishing the movement was Joseph, whose Lomah-like determination and blistering pace swept him into the try area and a grounding of the ball beneath the posts.

A second try soon followed from Adeola whose speedy end run down the left sideline left the opponents spectating. Against the wind and swaying goalposts, Alfie nonetheless had the right measure and kicked another wonderful conversions.

Strong pressure from Wasps kept the ball in Bishop Stortford’s half for much of the first half, and this paid off when a strong passing sequence moved the ball wide to Will who blazed into the try zone for Try #3.

Try #4 came via another excellent run by Joseph who returned an errant drop-out kick and shed several would be tacklers along the way. Bishop Stortford found some momentum towards the end of the half and threatened on several occasions, but terrific try saving tackles from Jed and Ehize twice thwarted the opponents.

At the close of the half and credit to the opponents’ determination, they ground out a well contested try.

At the close of the half and credit to the opponents’ determination, they ground out a well contested try.

The second half was a slower affair, with good scrum play and good defence from Wasps especially on the wings from Will and Matthew.

The power of the Bens and Sam in the first row, the Heppner–Logans, Jae, Haydn and Simran in the second row, and strong link play by strong link play by George and David at half-back kept the opponents on the back foot for much of the time.

At the one particularly vulnerable period when Wasps were feeling the pressure in their half, Arthur found an opening and scampered for a 50m run to relieve pressure and put Wasps back in control. Joseph scored two tries in the second half, one created after yet another strong Benedict run.

Altogether, Alfie kicked three successful conversions to make the final score 36 – 5. Well done to all of the boys, each of whom raised their individual games to produce a great team result.

Match Report Eugene Kim