Worcester Valkyries claimed a bonus-point win as they produced a destructive 60-19 display at Sixways to beat Wasps Ladies in the Women’s Premiership on Saturday.
Valkyries led at the break with Rachel Lund scoring an impressive first-half hat-trick followed by scores from Samantha Bree, Bianca Blackburn and Zoe Bennion to set up a 38-0 scoreline at the break.
In an open second period, Wasps scored three tries courtesy of Abigail Dow, Hannah Edwards and Sarah Mitchelson but late scores from Lisa Campbell, Lydia Thompson, Ceri Large and a second score from Bree, sealed an emphatic victory for Worcester.
Valkyries began brightly with an early score from Bree who touched down in the corner and Large added the extras from a tight angle.
Wasps were unable to deal with the bombardment of Valkyries attacks with Lund scoring a second within ten minutes of kick-off.
The full-back found space in the defence to ease her way through under the posts and Large added the following conversion.
In a dominant opening period, Worcester added their third of the game as Blackburn finished off a neat move in the corner after receiving the ball from Alexia Mavroudis who found space out wide.
Dominating possession and territory, Lund added her second of the game after taking the high ball and wriggling through challenges to score.
Wasps began to grow into the game but were pinned back by continuous mistakes which ultimately led to another Worcester try as Bennion crashed over after Worcester shipped the ball wide and Large added the extras.
Lund made it a first-half hat-trick just before the interval with an unstoppable run and Large converted again.
Wasps looked depleted at the break with the scoreline reading 38-0 to Worcester.
However, it took 30 seconds for the visitors to score after the break as Dow received the ball from a quick turnover and made no mistake in touching down in the corner, with Edwards adding the extra points.
Wasps then had a player advantage to help their surge as Lyndsay O’Donnell was the unfortunate recipient of a yellow card for a dangerous tackle, when it appeared to be a fellow Valkyries player.
But it was 14-man Worcester who scored as Campbell dived over after a dominant five-metre scrum.
Wasps did score in O’Donnell’s absence as Edwards scored after some good build-up play and the visitors looked dangerous on the counter with Mitchelson peeling off the back of a driving maul to go over and Edwards added the extras.
However, Valkyries put the nail in the coffin with three tries in the last ten minutes, with Thompson racing clear to add the first following good work from Large and Bree.
Large then scored a sensational try running in from halfway and Bree converted.
And Worcester rounded off a fantastic afternoon when Bree dotted down after receiving a ball out wide from Thompson.
Valkyries travel to Lichfield Ladies next Saturday in a must-win clash if they are to book a play-off spot in the Women’s Premiership (kick-off 5.30pm).
Timeline
03m | Bree try 5-0
03m | Large con 7-0
07m | Lund try 12-0
07m | Large con 14-0
13m | Blackburn try 19-0
21m | Lund try 24-0
30m | Bennion try 29-0
31m | Large con 31-0
39m | Lund try 36-0
40m | Large con 38-0
41m | Dow try 38-5
41m | Edwards con 38-7
64m | Campbell try 43-7
67m | Edwards try 43-12
70m | Mitchelson try 43-17
71m | Edwards con 43-19
73m | Thompson try 48-19
76m | Large try 53-19
76m | Bree con 55-19
78m | Bree try 60-19
Valkyries | 1 Rochelle Clark, 2 Lark Davies, 3 Laura Keates (Balmer 54), Stacey Hiscox, 5 Courtney Gill, 6 Helena Bunce (Davey 62), 7 Lyndsay O’Donnell, 8 Lisa Campbell (c), 9 Bianca Blackburn (Thompson 62), 10 Megan Goddrd, 11 Sam Bree, 12 Ceri Large, 13 Zoe Bennion (Parker 45), 14 Alexia Mavroudis (Cowell 57), 15 Rachel Lund
Replacements | 16 Paula Robinson, 17 Tracey Balmer, 18 Rosie Haigh, 19 Sarah Davey, 20 Lydia Thompson, 21 Rhi Parker, 22 Heather Cowell