The 2024/2025 season got underway in style as Wasps FC took on their longtime rivals Saracens in a thrilling encounter at the Wasps home ground. Under perfect conditions – clear skies, a pristine pitch, and a packed crowd fresh from the first League Lunch of the season – both teams delivered an exciting, hard-fought match.

Kick-off saw Wasps making an early statement, with the forwards establishing set piece dominance from the outset. A driving maul earned field position and a penalty, and Wasps continued to apply pressure with a commanding first scrum. The Wasps’ aggressive defense was evident early on, with some outstanding one-on-one tackling. Saracens, however, looked dangerous with their pick-and-go plays around the rucks, testing the Wasps’ defence at every opportunity.

It was Saracens who struck first. A well-timed line by their fly-half exploited a gap in Wasps’ guard defence, allowing him to slice through for the opening try, putting Saracens ahead 0-7. But Wasps responded almost immediately. A great kick chase from the restart forced Saracens into a mistake, and after a powerful display from the forwards, new Hall of Fame inductee Matt Cosgrove (Doogie) drove over to level the score at 7-7.

Building Pressure and Capitalizing on Opportunities

Wasps, clearly building on their structure and game plan from last season, employed a clever kicking strategy to keep Saracens' back three under pressure. This led to a series of 50/22 kicks that gave Wasps great field position. New Vice-captain Matt Buck showed quick thinking on a tap penalty and darted over the line, pushing Wasps into a 14-7 lead.

With their lineout functioning smoothly and the scrum becoming increasingly dominant, Wasps continued to control territory. Another well-executed driving maul resulted in their third try from Lock Ruaidhri Mason, extending the lead to 19-7.

Saracens, taking advantage of some Wasps ill-discipline, responded with a try of their own, narrowing the gap to 22-14 after another Wasps penalty kick. The game was still very much in the balance when Wasps produced the moment of the match, and an early contender for try of the season.

A Try to Remember

An inch-perfect box kick from scrum-half Manny Sousa forced an awkward kick return from the Saracens’ full-back. Manny gathered the loose kick inside the Wasps half and shifted it to debutant full-back James Cook. Seeing space behind the opposition winger, right-winger Sam Williams called for the cross-field kick. Whether by pinpoint accuracy or sheer luck, Cook obliged, putting in a beauty of a kick that Williams took on the bounce. Charging forward, Williams floated a pass inside to center Callum Hodgson, who powered through to finish off an absolute screamer of a try. The crowd (and some amateur commentary from the Wasps legends) erupted with, “This is quality, this is quality, what a try!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_qFgncgoR7/

The first half ended with Saracens camped inside the Wasps 22, but a determined defensive stand from the home side kept them out, ensuring Wasps went into the break with a 15-point advantage. 29-14

Second Half: Grit and Determination

As expected, Saracens came out strong in the second half, looking to build on the momentum from the end of the first period. They stretched Wasps’ defense by using the full width of the pitch and came close to scoring several times, but some heroic defending – including holding up a try over the line – kept them at bay. Unfortunately, former Captain Sam Williams’ part in the heroics earned him a six-hour stint in A&E, three X-rays, and a broken ankle.

The pressure eventually told, and after 25 minutes of Saracens attack, they crossed the line to bring the score to 29-21. Wasps, though, responded well, regaining possession and pushing into Saracens’ 22 after another excellent 50/22 from James Cook.

With tired bodies on both sides after an intense battle, Wasps turned the screws. A dominant scrum and some ferocious carries from the forwards – highlighted by number 6 Ruaidhri Sharp, who broke through multiple tackles – set up the opportunity for another well-executed backs move. Man of the match Callum Hodgson stormed over for his second try, putting Wasps ahead 36-21.

Late Drama

Saracens, as ever, refused to lie down. They responded almost immediately with a try of their own to make it 36-26 and set up a tense finish. From the restart, they launched a counter-attack from deep inside their own 22 and threatened to score a last-minute equalizer, but man of the moment Callum Hodgson once again stepped up, making a crucial cover tackle just five meters from the Wasps’ line.

In the end, Wasps held firm to secure a hard-earned 36-29 victory. Built on a foundation of strong set-piece play, solid defense, and moments of brilliance, Wasps came away with all available points in a fantastic start to the new season. Both teams are clearly aiming for promotion, but Wasps will take an advantage from this performance as they look to build momentum.

Final Score: Wasps FC 36 – Saracens 29

Captain Paddy commented,

Going into this, we knew it would be a tough match. Saracens always push us to the limit, but I’m incredibly proud of the lads. Everyone put in a huge shift and showed real grit in defence.

The atmosphere was fantastic, and the crowd really lifted us when we started to tire towards the end. Their energy gave us that extra push to hold on as Saracens threw everything at us.

Our set-piece was key today, and it’s great to see the hard work paying off. There were some brilliant moments – seeing James Cook, Sam Williams, and Callum Hodgson link up for that try was something special.

Getting 5 points from this fixture is a fantastic start, but we cannot get complacent. We’ve got plenty of areas to improve, and this is just a building block for the season ahead.

Finally, a special mention to Sam Williams, who picked up a nasty injury after a fantastic individual performance, both defensively and offensively. He set the tone for everyone, and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Next Opponents: U.C.S, 21st September