By Wasps Ladies
May 4 2005

Wasps Ladies celebrated their third National Premier League title in succession – the first time any women’s team has achieved this feat - by beating Clifton at Twyford Avenue by 15 points to 10 on Sunday.  

The game also saw Wasps though to their second National Cup Final in succession, having served as a double-header cup and league fixture.

Ladies captain Sue Day received the League Shield from Wasps FC President John Langley after her team won a tense encounter with their West Country rivals, the winning try scored by lock Alexia Massacand in the 70th minute after the teams had been locked at 10 all since Wasps drew level with a try from winger Lou Latter in the 45 minute.

The first half had seen Clifton go ahead twice, both scores created from nothing. Clifton’s international scrum half Susie Appleby put the visitors ahead with just 5 minutes on the clock, charging down a clearance kick from Wasps fly half Amy Turner, from where she collected the loose ball to run in unopposed for an early lead.

Wasps replied on the 12th minute, a line out catch and drive at close quarters touched down by prop Ness Huxford.

Wasps had the lions share of possession and territory for much of the rest of the half, and two scoring chances were squandered as first centre Sarah Marsh stepped over the dead ball line before touching the ball down, and then Captain Sue Day was called back after taking a quick tap penalty to score which the referee adjudged not through the mark. But it was Clifton who were ahead at the turnaround, winger Nicola Cooke capitalising on turnover possession to outstrip her opposite number after quick hands put her in space as Wasps were caught napping.

Wasps drew equal from a similar move at the start of the second half. Turnover ball was shipped out the international centre Paula George, who will play her last game of rugby at the Cup Final in 3 weeks time. George committed the central midfield to put away winger Lou Latter on a 60-metre sprint for the line.

Clifton piled on the pressure in the final 10 minutes, camped on Wasps line and battering forwards as the home side conceded penalties under pressure, but Wasps defence remained disciplined, and at the final whistle it was Wasps, as winner take all, who booked their place against Saracens on 22nd May in the RFUW Cup Final.

Coach Nicola Ponsford was full of praise for her side, who have stuck together through a difficult, and injury ravaged season, to ensure they at least equalled the success of last year’s League title and Cup Final berth. “I’m very happy fro the team,” she said, “I think the players deserved it. They have put I a awful lot of hard work during the season and the game and the result today exemplified the rewards fo that.”

Wasps date with Saracens in the Cup Final is re-run of last season, when the two sides met in a close encounter that saw Saracens squeeze through as winners by 8 points to 5. Ponsford is looking forward to the challenge, “Its our chance to avenge the defeat of last season. We’re won one, lost one for this season, and it’s going to be a tough game to end a very long season.”

She will be confident of her team’s ability however, paying tribute to her coaching colleague Mark Barnes, “Barnesy has worked hard to get the backs playing in a season made difficult by injury. The way he works with the team as a whole however, the conditioning and skills work that he has done with the players pay dividends with success on days like today.”

Wasps Scorers:

Tries: Vanessa Huxford, Louise Latter, Alexia Massacand.

Clifton Scorers Tries: Susie Appleby, Emily Cooke