Wasps Ladies v Lichfield Ladies

Review

In round 13 of the Women’s Premiership games, Lichfield Ladies travelled to Wasps. After a slow start, Lichfield put on an excellent display and came away with a thoroughly deserved victory, scoring nine tries in a comprehensive win.

Both sides started well and both had early scoring chances, but the tricky conditions meant that neither side were able to convert their opportunities. It was Lichfield who eventually opened the scoring after 10 minutes following a break by Sarah Nicholas and then a quickly taken penalty from Carys Williams, who was able to muscle her way over the line for the first try. After 20 minutes, following a superb passing move, winger Carys Hall received the ball 40 metres out and used her searing pace to touch down under the posts, with a successful Sarah Nicholas conversion giving Lichfield a 12-0 lead.

After 30 minutes Wasps got their first score to bring the score back to 12-5. Just before half time, the outstanding Amy Cokayne added a superb solo try, when, after picking up a loose ball she danced past three defenders showing some great footwork and touched down in the corner.

In the second half, Lichfield made a number of changes and got better and better as the game went on, adding six tries to their total. Captain Tash Jones added the first after 47 minutes which set the tempo for Lichfield who then ran riot with five further tries from Ros Jermine (62 mins), Holly Aitchison (68 mins), Charlotte Pearce (71 mins), Amy Cokayne (73 mins) and following a superb team move and some outstanding passing a final try from Lucy Nye after 79 minutes.

One try from Wasps and two conversions from Sarah Nicholas brought the final score to 51-10 to Lichfield.

Commenting on the match, Lichfield’s Coach Ian Cokayne said “We were delighted with our well-deserved victory today. Wasps made it very difficult for us in the first half, but the whole team maintained their composure, stuck to the game plan and delivered an excellent bonus point win with some really clinical finishing.

In the second half we made a few tactical and strategic changes, particularly in defence, which really made a difference. That gave us more possession and territory and we really turned on the style with five tries in the last 20 minutes.

This performance gives us great confidence going into the final games of the season.”