Chiefs Women 82 Wasps Women 7
Exeter Chiefs Women 82
Wasps Women 7
Mark Stevens at Sandy Park
Oh, how the mighty have fallen!
For years Wasps Rugby were a household name within the English game. A club whose history was widely regarded and whose on-field presence was revered by rivals across the land.
Sadly, the 2022/23 season will go down as the time when this once great club slipped into the abyss. Whereas their men’s side will hope to rediscover itself in the depths of the Midlands League, their women’s side are set to bow out on an equally low note from the Allianz Premier 15s.
In the Devon sunshine, the visitors took could at least take heart from a fighting display that did yield a somewhat happy ending when replacement Chloe Flanagan crossed for a consolation score in the dying embers.
The rest of the contest at Sandy Park, however, was a total mis-match as Exeter Chiefs rediscovered their winning formula with a 12-try demolition job.
‘Captain America’ herself Kate Zackary led the way for Susie Appleby’s side, claiming a hat-trick of tries in the opening half-hour. Brooke Bradley and Laura Sheehan helped themselves to a brace apiece, whilst there were further touchdowns for Katie Buchanan, Rachel Johnson, Silvia Turani, Lori Cramer and Nancy McGillivray.
Liv McGoverne and Gabby Cantorna took it in turns to heap further misery on the visitors with their goalkicking, before Robyn Wilkins got in on the scoring act herself with three late conversions.
The victory, which has put the Chiefs within touching distance of securing home advantage in next month’s play-offs, was much needed in the wake of back-to-back losses to Saracens and Bristol Bears in the past fortnight.
With Appleby keen to get some of her fringe stars battle hardened for the final run-in, it was the ideal opportunity for the Chiefs to make hay in the glorious conditions.
Bradley was one of those given the chance to impress and it was from her snipe off the back of a brutal 30-metre rolling maul from the Chiefs pack that Zackary was able to charge her way down the left touchline to claim the game’s opening score, which McGoverne converted.
Just two minutes later and the hosts were doubling their tally, Turani stripping Wasps of possession on halfway before feeding the ball to Bradley, whose simple offload allowed Buchanan to race down the right wing and over for Exeter’s second score.
It was a devastating opening to the game from the Chiefs, who were ruling the roost in all departments. Further chances came and went, but a combination of stout defence from the visitors, plus some sloppy handling meant the scoreboard remained untouched for the remainder of the first quarter.
Exeter’s pressure, however, was mounting by the minute and three converted tries in less than ten minutes saw them swot aside the resistance of Wasps.
No.8 Johnson claimed the first of those scores, rumbling over from a well-drilled catch-and-drive move; before compatriot Zackary struck with two further efforts to claim her treble.
The experienced American, playing in an unaccustomed role on the wing, raced over for her second, side-stepping in from the left following strong carries from Ebony Jefferies and McGillivray – and then claimed her third when, following turnover ball off a Wasps scrum, the Chiefs back division released Cramer who drew in the cover before shipping a simple pass to her team-mate to glide over.
Not content with all of that, the Chiefs wrapped up a powerful first 40 minutes when, with the last move of the half, Turani claimed her second try of the season when she rounded off good approach work from Emily Tuttosi and skipper Poppy Leitch.
HALF TIME: EXETER CHIEFS WOMEN 42 WASPS WOMEN 0
Wasps had been mauled into submission during that first half, but it would get no easier on the resumption as within a minute of the restart, Cramer added her name to the scoring charts, the Aussie full-back fielding a loose kick from Linkins before waltzing her way under the posts.
Seven tries soon became eight as within three minutes it was McGillivray’s turn to prove her worth, the young centre able to glide over unopposed after McGoverne had sent Jefferies powering through the heart of the Wasps midfield before he flanker offloaded to her team-mate.
To their credit, Wasps continued to offer a resistance of sorts. However, their attack was often limited and one-dimensional and it meant the Chiefs could happily contain their threat. And as the heat overhead intensified, so the visitors slowly began to wilt.
The Chiefs, showing no mercy for their counterparts, duly made them pay as Sheehan – with her touch of the game – finished off another slick Exeter attack to make it 59-0 just before the hour mark.
Exeter’s power and pace off the bench meant there was no let-up in standards and with Bradley, now operating at full-back, given time and space, she raced her way over for a wonderful individual score.
A second quickly followed for the diminutive back, this time rounding off a coast-to-coast attack that had created space for Cramer to feed the ball back inside for her onrushing colleague.
It was an impressive display from Bradley, who then turned provider for Exeter’s final score of the day late on. Again another polished attack, sparked by some fancy footwork from McGillivray, saw the centre link with Bradley, who drew in the cover before sending Sheehan racing over for her second of the game.
Ruthless it may have been from the Chiefs, but the final word would go to the visitors who, with the clock in the red, claimed a consolation score when, following a quick tap penalty from skipper Liz Crake, they were able to feed the ball into the path of Flanagan who rumbled over from close range.
Exeter know they will face much tougher tests than this in the coming weeks, but the feel-good factor of a win never hurts and they will head to Gloucester next week determined to secure home advantage in the last four.
Chiefs: L Cramer; K Buchanan (L Sheehan 55), N McGillivray, G Cantorna (M McDonald 55), K Zackary; L McGoverne (R Wilkins 55), B Bradley; S Turani (A Middlebrooke 51), E Tuttosi (C Nielson 40), D Menin (C Jacoby 28); N Fryday, P Leitch (capt); A Fleming, E Jefferies, R Johnson (G Senft 55). Replacement (not used): M Allen.
Tries - Zackary (3), Buchanan, Johnson, Turani, Cramer, McGillivray, Sheehan (2), Bradley (2); Conversions - McGoverne (4), Cantorna (4), Wilkins (3)
Wasps: S Flowers; K Hillier, M Saunders, E Lennon (E Tuck 66), P Roberts; J-J Linkins, T Braunerova; D Willimore (C Flanagan 40), A Bainbridge, A Stock; S Pinnock, N Beet (I Jacques 66); C Blanco, H Caux, L Crake (capt).
Try - Flanagan; Conversion - Linkins
Referee: K Ritchie
Attendance: 1,942