An injury-ravaged Wasps welcomed top-of-the table Barnet Elizabethans to Twyford Avenue, knowing that victory would allow them to leapfrog their opposition and stake their claim as contenders for league champions.

Match report by Peter Vangelatos

A frantic but entertaining start to the game saw Wasps and Barnet trade blows in an attempt to gain the upper hand. Some powerful running from the Barnet forwards produced some nervous moments; however, the Wasps defence remained resolute against the waves of pressure. Nevertheless, it was at scrum time where the Wasps’ forwards showed impressive skill by bullying the opposition pack and gaining valuable territory from the ensuing scrum penalties.

However, completely against the run of play, some quick thinking from the opposition saw a speculative chip over the top of the Wasps’ defence bounce into the hands of the winger allowing Barnet to go over for the first points of the game.

Wasps quickly countered and after some sustained pressure in the opposition 22, the ball was shifted wide to winger Callum Hodgson who showed good footwork to beat his man and cross the whitewash for Wasps’ first try of the game. Winger, Mattie Atherton, converted 10 metres out from the touch line, to edge the home side ahead for the first time in the match.

A penalty 30 metres out from the posts was given against Barnet and Atherton carried on his impeccable display from the tee to stretch Wasps’ lead to 5 points. The impressive display by Wasps’ pack ensured ideal field position and clean ball for the backs and after a prolonged period of being camped in Barnet’s 22, Blindside Flanker Alex Hilton crossed the line just before the half-time whistle. Atherton knocked over the extras to stretch the Wasps’ lead to 17-5 at the halfway stage.

In the second half, Wasps impressive defensive display continued. Fly half and man-of-the match, Paul Buffry, plucked an errant pass out of the air from his Barnet opposite number and streaked away to dot down under the sticks. Atherton duly knocked over the extras.

Nevertheless, a lovely backline move from Barnet allowed their substitute full-back to scythe through a tiring Wasps’ defence for what would be their second try of the match. Sensing a shift in momentum on the back of the try and an impressive 50-22 from the opposition 9, Barnet sought to capitalize on the territory and apply the pressure on Wasps in the home side’s 22. The ball was shifted quickly to the left flank for Barnet to score their third and final try of the match in the corner.

The Wasps boys managed to wrestle back control of the game in the last quarter of the game and the afternoon was crowned off with another intercept from 60 metres out, this time from Centre Bojan Cecaric who dotted down under the posts to take the game out of Barnet’s reach. Atherton converted to extend the Wasps’ lead to an unassailable 16 points. There were jubilant scenes at the full-time whistle as the Wasps boys climbed up to 2nd place on the ladder, after what can be described as one of the best team performances of the season.

Wasps can hold their heads high heading into the new year having been beaten just once in a very competitive league, and will head away next week to strugglers Thamesians full of confidence for the last game of the calendar year.

Our thoughts are with winger Callum Hodgson, who sustained a head injury during the fist half. We are pleased to report that, after a trip to hospital, he is in good spirits and appears to be on the mend. We look forward to welcoming him back soon.

Once a Wasp, Always a Wasp