Wasps took on League leaders Harrow away on Saturday, in the return game to earlier in the season, when Wasps were beaten at Twyford Avenue, 16 – 18, in a tight and exciting game. Then the game went to the last play and the Harrow number eight made a Try saving tackle in the dying moments. The sequel turned out to be even closer.
The pitch was wet in parts, muddy in parts but certainly playable and Harrow deserve credit for their pre-match efforts to ensure the game went ahead, after an overnight deluge. Wasps played away from the clubhouse first half and towards the better half of the pitch. They received the kick-off and let the ball bounce, stood and watched as Harrow regained possession and immediately began tackling anyone in a blue and white shirt with a passion that was not to diminish all afternoon.
Both sides initially tried to play too much in the underfoot conditions, but if it was going to be possible, it was likely to be when conditions were at there best. Harrow had the better of the first five minutes or so, recycling and playing in an organised manner trying to go round the corner and release their backs from second or third phase ball. This they did accurately and with a level of organisation that one would expect from the team sitting at the top of the table. Wasps, as is their way, tackled with total commitment and some degree of authority through Sam and BJ in the centres, but also had Aussie Alex, Barry, making his debut, and Freddie in the back-row tackling anything that moved with fervour.
Harrow maintained field position through the first ten to fifteen minutes with Wasps only occasionally breaking out through clearing kicks or penalties. Harrow in-turn, returned through sensible ball retention, and kicking for touch, with their own penalties. They drove the ball continually at the Wasps defence and their big No 4 got through an immense amount of powerful work, repeatedly asking two or more Wasps players to stop his efforts. It was, however, from the subsequent runners that Wasps forced turn-overs and penalties. This dogged defence slowly gave way to Wasps attacking with ball in-hand from a number of possessions at the Harrow end of the field, and found the hosts equally determined to tackle anyone in black. After twenty minutes it was obvious that Try scoring was going to be at a premium, as the surface did not allow either side to get any real pace on the ball, it had already become a game of ‘Wills’, and neither side was going to give way without total commitment.
From one of Harrows adventures into the Wasps half, Ben tackled his opposite number at the base of a scrum, the Wasps back-row were too quickly into the ruck and consequently went over the top, probably more through enthusiasm than any intent, but it was a clear penalty. The Harrow kicker took his time, placed the ball in an appropriately less muddy area and struck what was a good kick, in the conditions, cleanly through the posts. Harrow had taken a deserved lead but by now knew that each and every point was going to be hard to earn. Harrow 3 Wasps 0 after twenty-five minutes.
The next ten minutes saw Wasps kick and chase game coming to the fore and they were able to maintain a period of good field position, but unable to get through a resolute Harrow defensive line.
Nick almost got free down the left wing but his pass back inside did not go to hand, was knocked-on and allowed Harrow to clear their lines from the ensuing scrummage.
Harrow returned to the Wasps end of the pitch and doggedly tried to pick and go and drive their way over. They had a number of five-metre scrummages, but failed to score. Wasps front-row in this phase of the game were outstanding. Luke, Rory, playing his comeback game from his injury in November, and Douggie held out and possibly began to get a slight psychological edge at this phase of the game.
With Harrow unable to get a nudge in the scrummages, their talented back-row were unable to pick the ball up on the front foot, and consequently were slower targets to tackle for the Wasps back-row, all of whom were now looking like ‘Samoan Mud Warriors’ but were certainly making every tackle. Alex and Freddie, to the fore and Barry tidying up anyone who looked like gaining a yard or two whilst in the clutches of his two back-row colleagues.. In the end Harrow went over the top and Wasps were able to clear their lines.
The half-time whistle went and both sides had time to reassess and both would have been fairly happy with their efforts. Both sides were certainly aware that their opposition were intent on stopping them in their tracks; there were few players on the field who had not been involved in solid physical contact with their opposite number. Both sides had been winning their set ball so it was almost certainly going to come down, to who used it best, to gain field position and apply pressure during the second period.
Harrow had soon created another five-metre scrummage situation, a number eight pick up, fed to their scrum-half who was stopped in his tracks by a superb tackle from Nick, stepping in from his wing. The resulting knock-on allowed Wasps to clear their lines from the following scrum on their put-in.
The next line-out saw Harrow win their ball and drive into the mid-field by bringing their blind-side winger in behind their centres. Wasps back-row were palpably off-side at the breakdown and from directly in front of the posts and at the best end of the pitch their kicker struck the ball over the posts to take the score to Harrow 6 Wasps 0, a score in the conditions which was becoming more significant.
Wasps had a period in the Harrow end of the field, which was now starting to cut up quite badly and made a positive decision to go to an almost total pick and go game when in the muddier areas. This did begin to bring them some degree of success, as Harrow stood off slightly waiting or hoping for a mistake, which on some occasions came, but Wasps were beginning to have an increased say in the game. Harrow defended this phase of the game well and returned to the Wasps end by gaining large yardage, from kick and chase situations themselves. It did not help Wasps that they knocked on two such kicks and gave their opponents possession in their half of the field, in a game where possession was King.
Eventually Harrow manufactured another five-metre scrummage, from which their number eight picked up and fed his scrum half quite quickly, who scampered over for a Try in the corner.
The very difficult kick was made impossible by the wind starting to gust at its strongest, just as the kicker set about his business. Harrow 11 Wasps 0.
Wasps restarted the game and were able to stay in the Harrow end and apply some pressure of their own. With some excellent pick and go drills and clear structure to their driving they began to look a force. As always the side with the ball got most of the decisions and Harrow were suddenly under pressure and beginning to look slightly fallible. After one series of drives right up the middle of the pitch, Wasps managed to draw the Harrow centres into making tackles and released the ball quickly along the backline and fullback Ryan dived over in the corner to score a very well constructed Try in any conditions let alone those on the day. Blayne’s conversion was never really likely to get close but Wasps had now got themselves into the game Harrow 11 Wasps 5.
Harrow immediately upped the anti, as all good sides do, and attacked from a line-out on the Wasps ten-metre line, punching up the middle, going round the corner from the ensuing ruck and again using their blind-side winger in behind their centres, produced a clear two on one. The final pass was above and behind the last player and went into touch. If caught he would have had a clear run to the line, but Ryan was coming across at a rate of knots, so whether it was a certain score or not is one for discussion, but it clearly was an indication that Harrow if they wanted to go wide had the capability to do so.
Wasps once again returned to the Harrow half with the ball in their possession and began to pick and go again. They received repeated put-ins to scrummages and picked up and went straight-back to pick and go in the muddiest part of the pitch, they punched their centres up the middle and went again and again with pick and go. Their ball retention was excellent, in the conditions almost miraculous, and were gaining ground in a very structured manner. They just kept going with a full head of steam. Harrow were on the back foot and were not getting back into defend the edges of the rucks quickly enough, and it was no surprise when Barry was driven over near the posts and scored Wasps second Try of the game. Blayne took time to choose where he was prepared to place the ball and converted to take Wasps into the lead for the first time. Harrow 11 Wasps 12 with ten minutes to go.
Harrow kicked off with a fairly flat trajectory kick and Wasps again stood and watched the ball bounce, it skidded nearly all the way to the Wasps line. It was picked up by a Wasps player who under severe pressure kicked for touch, but missed. Harrow caught the ball out wide drove it in field and were awarded a penalty for a Wasps back-row defender not rolling away. It was not an easy kick, being just over halfway out to the touchline and outside the Wasps twenty-two, as well as being into the breeze. None of these issues disturbed the Harrow goal kicker and he struck the ball cleanly through the uprights to restore his teams lead. Harrow 14 Wasps 12.
Wasps kicked off short into the Harrow half, Harrow were awarded a scrummage and kicked for position. Wasps won the lineout and kicked the ball back from inside their own twenty-two, as they felt that they had been winning the kicking game, with Blayne staying quite deep, catching and returning most Harrow bombs with interest. Harrow again kicked the ball back into the Wasps twenty-two, but on this occasion Wasps moved it wide to the left where George was off running in his own inimitable style, beating two or three defenders, he was finally tackled beyond the Harrow ten-metre line near the touchline.
A Harrow defender made a side entry and was penalised. How Luke was the first player there, I don’t know, but he took a tapped penalty and quickly gained another ten metres or more, went to ground and Wasps were very much on the front foot. Wasps were again in the Harrow half with the ball in their possession and began to pick and go again, and again and again. They drove into the middle of the pitch where a Harrow player was penalised. Blayne placed the ball on the one piece of suitable ground, on the line of the penalty, and struck a far from easy kick accurately through the posts, to take Wasps back into the lead. The final whistle blew immediately and Wasps had won a titanic second half struggle 11 points to 15 points, to record a victory. Harrow 14 Wasps 15.
Wasps were obviously delighted to win, and Harrow were magnanimous in defeat. The match like the previous one earlier in the season, was alive until the last play, perhaps it was fate that made it Wasps turn to win the roll of dice.
Both sides should be proud of their efforts in far from ideal conditions and during the course of the afternoon both sides played some attractive phases of rugby. The set pieces of both sides were excellent in the conditions and I cannot recall a scrummage having to be reset because of collapse throughout the game. Both sides produced a plethora of ball from contact and ruck situations and tried to use it effectively.
It was a day when defences were likely to be on top, and taking the few chances when they came along. Mistakes were going to be crucial in deciding the final outcome and both sides missed opportunities.
The Match Official played a full part in the game, making every effort to play advantage and allow players an opportunity to develop things. There were numerous ‘crossing’ decisions and ‘accidental off sides’ that seemed to infuriate some spectators, but on such a slow surface these were almost certainly going to occur. The Referee certainly made a positive contribution to the afternoon’s entertainment and certainly appeared to have the confidence of both sets of players on the pitch. It was a full blooded physical battle from start to finish and I am certain there would have been a whole host of battered and bruised bodies getting out of bed on Sunday and Monday mornings.
For Wasps this was clearly one of their better performances of the season and Harrow do appear to bring the best out of them. Any number of players could have been awarded man of the match. As mentioned previously the front-row of Luke, Rory and Douggie along with the back-row of Alex, Freddie and Barry were pivotal in the performance. Second-rows Kieran and Nick won their line-out ball and were immense around the park, Sam Parker who gave them both a rest during the game played above and beyond. Whilst halfbacks Ben and Blayne, apart from one air pass in the first minute were very much on the same page. Regular readers will know that Sam and BJ, were just Sam and BJ, solid and reliable in any situation. Daniel and Nick on the wings were positive in all they did, with and without the ball and George’s cameo in the second half led to the situation from which the winning score was achieved. Ryan at fullback after an early dropped ball was safety personified and tackled with alacrity when required.
But one man stood out from the crown Captain Freddie led from the front and with such commitment that his players could not have looked him in the eye after the game if they to had not made an effort.