WASPS v Tring

On a cool but relatively windless day at Twyford Avenue Wasps A entertained Tring A in the second league match of this season.

Despite a decent warm up Wasps started slowly and conceded a number of early penalties as Tring remained camped in the Wasps 22 for most of the first 10 minutes. But after soaking up the pressure Wasps were able to break out with a good strong run from Nate Thiede-Palmer. The penalty count remained high however and a quickly taken tap from Wasps scrum half and captain Jamie Dunbar was fed through the Wasps hands, good linking from Sam Aslam, Theo Such and Connor Baxter (playing his first A team match) created further positive territory for Wasps. A drive up the left hand side was halted by Tring but after some strong mauling by the forwards Jamie Dunbar was able to force his way over for the first try after 13 minutes. The conversion hit the cross bar, against the slight wind, leaving the score at 5 - 0.
From the kick off a Wasps fumble meant further pressure from Tring in the Wasps 22 and it took a very strong run from Yamoto Bando to run out of defence. Mark Hughes followed up with 2 strong runs of his own and Wasps started to attack. Theo Such had a jinking run from full back linking up with his forwards and the back line. Alexander Sharpe-Neal received the ball with some work today but managed to race around the defence to score in the right hand corner. Fergus McWilliams was unfortunate again with the conversion leaving the score at 10 - 0.
Wasps were soon under lots more pressure from Tring and their tackling was called into action. Tring clearly stung by Wasps efforts so far sprang into action and mauled strongly to set up a try through their backs almost on the stroke of half time. A conversion led to a half time score of 10 - 7 in Wasps favour.

Wasps soon had Tring back under pressure from the second half kick off which was dropped and knocked on. A succession of scrums and infringements led to a period of scrappy play from both sides. The territory and possession "see - sawed" with one particular passage seeing a kick out of defence from Fergus, a great chase from Alexander Sharpe-Neal and Leo Currie looked like it would lead to a score but Tring were able to wrestle the ball away and run back into the Wasps half. Wasps won the line out that ensued, worked their way down into the Tring 22 and then proceeded to knock the ball on with the try line begging. Certainly frustrating for the teams, and the vocal crowd. Wasps remained camped short of the Tring line and despite some strong play came away with nothing as Tring yet again ran the ball out.

Some powerful tackling from all of the Wasps team was required as Tring pressured but Fergus kicked the ball down the park. A slight wind in Wasps favour meant that the ball travelled well into Tring territory, a kick on by the chasing Wasps players and the ball rolled over the Tring line. Leo Currie was adjudged by the referee to have been blocked and a penalty try was awarded. Fergus was successful with the conversion leading to a 17 - 7 score line.

Tring then came hard at Wasps and were held up over the line on at least 2 occasions, their forwards pushed hard and managed to force their way over for a try. The conversion was missed and a closer score line of 17 - 12 with 5 minutes meant that Wasps needed to keep the Tring team out. From the kick off Tring were intent on scoring and came hard, a fortunate penalty for Wasps for offside was not kicked to touch and with their backs not marked Tring made a final effort to score down the left hand touch, but some good tackling and a kick to touch left Wasps with a rewarding win.

Wasps Man of the Match, for some outstanding tackling and powerful attacking runs - Yamoto Bando.