Saracens Amateur RFC Limited

Although Wasps will have been aggrieved not have put more points on the board in a game where Saracens ended playing with 13 players, the north Londoners were full value for this bonus point win.

Saracens started very strongly with an early unconverted try from backrow star Maggie Alphonsi.

Wasps hit back with some patient pick and drives up front and after a period of pressure in the Saracens 22, Hannah Edwards knocked over a penalty to make it 3-5.

Saracens then took control of the game as hard running from centre Poppy Cleall and Alphonsi gave them plenty of momentum. A scrum inside the Wasps 22 was well controlled and Leanne Riley brushed off the challenge of Toya Mason to sprint in under the posts for a try converted by Lauren Cattell.

Wasps spent the last few minutes of the first half searching for a score in reply and did have the ball over the line only for it to be held up and Saracens eventually cleared, with Michaela Staniford running some excellent lines.

The second half began with Saracens dominant and some impressive defence helped them convert another early try – this time Leah Morley finishing off powerfully after Alphonsi had forced the turnover in the tackle.

Wasps lost the influential Marlie Packer to injury, with the number 8 having contributed some strong runs and tackles in the match and Saracens took advantage of the disruption to score again through Leah Carey and then grab the bonus point after some nice hands out wide allowed Stacey White to score and Sarah Mckenna to put over the conversion.

There was still time for one more score from the visitors, with Alphoni crashing over after a well organised rolling maul in the Wasps 22.

Wasps to their credit never gave up, and pushed hard in the closing minutes. They were rewarded with a nice finish from Becca Rowe and then spent the final minutes hammering away at the Saracens line. Four penalties and two yellow cards for Saracens meant they could feel hard done by not to have been awarded a penalty try, but the game was already well beyond reach.

Photos by Elaine Peedle