Wasps Team Gold welcomed Hillingdon Abbots to Twyford Avenue for Round two of the Herts and Middlesex League for a match that would be played in near-ideal rugby conditions and with both sides looking to build upon opening day wins.

As is becoming a theme, Team Gold lined up against physically larger opponents, notably in the centre and wing positions. Kicking to start, Team Gold’s defensive line putting pressure on the midfield, resulting in a series of evenly-contested scrums. Pack weights started to tell, however, and Abbots managed to turnover a Wasps scrum just inside the Wasps half. The ball was quickly shifted to the Abbots 14 who side-stepped through tackles to ground the ball and post the first points.

To Team Gold’s credit, they stuck to the task and were justly rewarded. A scrum well won inside the Abbots half allowed scrum-half Antonio to get quick ball to the backs who stretched play intelligently with centre Josh Marks getting over the line for parity. Loose ball was to prove a challenge for Team Gold throughout the match. A turnover inside the Abbots half allowed number 14 to once again exploit space in Team Gold’s defensive line to score.

Wasps looked most dangerous when the ball was moved quickly through the backs and looked to bring their pace to bear to stretch the Abbots line. Powerful running from Rafe McLeod opened up space for Marley to go over in the corner early in the second half. Abbots in turn looked to kick and pin Wasps back and exploit space in behind and this tactic was to yield rewards with individual Wasps players being isolated and turned-over.

With both teams tiring, the level of tackling fell away and space began to open up with Abbots denied twice by try-saving tackling from Arthur at full back. This contributing to Team Gold drawing the second half but it was not enough to overturn a first half deficit.

Each and every player on Team Gold worked hard but the team did not play with the cohesion needed. As coaches our goal is to translate that effort into cohesion and better support.

All the players enjoyed the traditional post-match meal and the Man of the Match awards. Wasps nominating Abbots’ Campese-esque side-stepping Number 14 and Abbots’ tight-head captain nominating his opposite number in the scrum, Ciaran.

Team Gold will be looking to get back to winning ways again away to Ruislip RFC on the 11th December.
Tom Maher.