Wasps took on Whitehaven in a late season Cumbria 1 league match.
The Wasps team set-up had a late change in the backs due to injury during the warm-up. Immediately from the kick off Whitehaven chipped through and dribbled over the line to score in the first minute.
There followed a few minutes of Wasps control, a penalty kicked to the 22m line where Whitehaven secured the lineout.
The first scrum at five minutes ended in a penalty to Whitehaven who kicked to Wasps 10m. Further penalties to Whitehaven gave them territory and applied pressure.
A Whitehaven penalty 10m out was tapped moved rapidly across the backs for a try on the right wing. 0-13 at 13 minutes.
Wasps held up a maul and won the scrum.
Good movement from Wasps backs and moved wide from a Harry Bobby quick tap penalty resulted in a try far left by Greg Vickers. Ben Irving converted. At 17 minutes 7-12.
Shortly after Alex Butterfield made a line break handed on to Oli Grey who threw an excellent dummy and went over for a try converted by Ben. 14-12 at end of first quarter.
Whitehaven then pressured the Wasps line from a tap and go and several phases eventually ending in a Wasps scrum.
Wasps then took a series of scrum penalties near the Whitehaven line.
A Whitehaven scrum gave a clearance to half way. Whitehaven 9 was carded for a high tackle just before half time, the penalty was run towards the corner, Whitehaven awarded a lineout to close the half.
At half time the score was 14-12.
Coach Reed shuffled the team at half time with fresh legs coming on.
Three minutes in Whitehaven kicked to the houses corner and followed up to score out wide 14-17.
Ben Irving break made ground to near the Whitehaven try line , a final pass being adjudged forward. 15 minutes into the half Whitehaven 10 produced an excellent kick pass for their right wing to score an unconverted try in the corner 14-22.
Wasps the had a good attacking period with a movement from deep right side, good rucking and mauling., Harry Bibby scoring from an excellent line break. A low trajectory conversion from Ben brought the score to 21-22.
Several penalties to both sides followed as the game moved into the final quarter. Whitehaven had a lineout in Wasps left corner following a penalty, Wasps took a scrum from this and Harry put in a relieving kick.
Wasps were unable to convert a penalty around the 70-minute mark, however, they stepped up the pressure with several phases near the Whitehaven line.
A penalty around the 10 line was chipped into the corner. Wasps lost the lineout, the Whitehaven hooker was carded, Wasps tapped the penalty pushed for a score but weren’t able to get over the line. A penalty around to Whitehaven, a lineout and the kicked out ended an enjoyable game.
Full time Wasps 21- 22 Whitehaven
MOM Cockermouth Alex Butterfield
Whitehaven. No 10
A spokesman for the Wasps said: “Thank you to Arenberg Photography for capturing pictures of the game including the minute’s silence for Poppy, our thoughts and prayers go out to Poppy’s family, friends and the Kendal RUFCÂ community.”
