Saracens 33-10 Wasps: Saracens undefeated through their opening two matches

Saracens continue their perfect start to the season after Wasps suffered from poor discipline in the second half at StoneX stadium.

Tries from Jeanina Loyola, Jodie Rettie and Louise McMillan ensured Saracens led at the break. Wasps struck back from Liz Crake but Saracens sealed the victory with scores from Liz Crake and May Campbell.

The opening 10 minutes was closely fought encounter with both sets of forwards being tested in the lineout. It was the visitors who dominated this set piece early on, however, the tide turned in favour of Sarries as Wasps’ penalty count began to rise.

After a sustained period, camped out inWasps’ 22, the hosts won themselves another penalty. Off the back of a well executed lineout, Loyola used the strength of the driving mall to cross the white line and score the first points of the game.

The conversion quickly followed from fly-half, Florence  Williams, who recently signed with Sarries having played for Wasps last season.

After Sarries’ captain, Fiona McIntosh was replaced by Grace Moore, it didn’t take long for their lead to double.

In the 30th minute the ever dominant driving maul was rewarded with another 7 points. Rettie was the try scorer and Williams added another conversion.

As the first half came to a close, Wasps’ sustained effort was rewarded with a penalty. Their fly-half, Hannah Edwards added the three points.

The celebrations from the Wasps fans were short lived, as the hosts added a third try before the curtains closed on the opening 40 minutes. McMillan carried true and strong, thundering over the line with Williams securing her third conversion.

At halftime, Saracens led Wasps, 21-3.

Edwards got the second half underway and the troubles continued for Wasps. Two yellow cards were shown and the already struggling Wasps were depleted at crucial positions.

Edwards was the first to spent 10 minutes in the bin and she was joined nine minutes later by prop, Caitlin Simpson.

Despite being down to 13 players, the Wasps defence held strong for the majority of the sin bin duration, though they eventually conceded as Edwards returned to the pitch.

Georgia Evans capitalised on a gap between players, following a scrum on Wasps’ five meter line.

Wasps dug in during the next ten minutes as they continued to down a player. Their sustained pressure brought them to within 5 meters of the Sarries try line. After the home side gave away a penalty, captain, Crake, scored Wasps’ first try of the match after the forwards ground down the Sarries defence.

It took Saracens until the final five minutes to of the match to return to Wasps’ half of the field. prior to this, a combination of handling errors and a strong Saracens defensive effort kept Wasps from finding their second score of the game.

Sarries made the most of this trip into the Wasps’ half and with four minutes to go, replacement front row, Campbell scored the side’s fifth try of the afternoon. Williams returned to her exquisite levels of kicking, slotting the conversion having missed one previously.

Saracens defeated Wasps 33-10 and continue their perfect start to the season. They travel away to Harlequins next week. Meanwhile, Wasps will host Gloucester, who beat Bristol 36-5 yesterday.