The Wasps veterans held their inaugural player’s awards evening at Newton FC on 27 April 2004.

In a narrow vote, the main prize of the evening, the Players Player of the Year award went to striker Ian Barr, with Iain Mackie and Barry Dempsey second and third respectively. Ian also picked up the prestigious Golden Boot award to recognise his contribution as the Wasps leading scorer for the season.

The Coaches Player of the Year award, honoured Mark Torgersen who in his first full season with the club was recognised not only for his contribution on the pitch at the heart of the Wasps midfield, but for his involvement and commitment behind the scenes.

Ian Barr receiving his awards from Player/Coach Mike Jones:

Match 15

4 April 2004 @ Capenhurst

BNFL 1   West Kirby Wasps Vets 4    

West Kirby Wasps put in by far their most impressive display of the season and proved too hot to handle for their hosts. The superlative ‘perfection’ in individual sports is more common as both Torvill and Dean and Nadia Comaneci can testify.  In footballing terms a faultless performance is a rarity though the Wasps will feel they came close to justifying such accolades, functioning like a well-oiled machine in perfect unison. 

The performance of the Orangemen evoked memories of Liverpool’s impressive 5-0 annihilation of Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest in 1988, pass and move football at it’s best. All the more remarkable was that Player Manager Mitchell was forced to blood newcomers Lamb and Elder into the fray and you would be hard pressed to remember two more competent debuts.

It was the Wasps that drew first blood when Ian Barr scored with a trademark chip in the first ten minutes and then doubled his tally soon after with a well taken left foot shot into the corner of the net. Andy Elder smashed a third home just before the interval to leave the home side completely shell-shocked.

Half Time: BNFL 0 Wasps 3

In the first period the role of the Wasps custodian Dempsey had been reduced to that of an admiring observer. However it wasn’t long before he too was called into action following the award of a penalty given against debutant Elder after an over zealous challenge.  Despite a well-struck shot from the home striker Dempsey managed to fling himself to his right and parry the ball away gathering the loose ball in an instant for a spectacular save. 

Within minutes though BNFL reduced the deficit when their striker bent a Roberto Carlos like shot into the top corner from the angle of the penalty area.

Undeterred the Wasps kept up the incessant pressure and Andy Mackie will feel he should have added to the scoreline when he ran through unchallenged only to see his shot cannon back off the foot of the post into the grateful arms of the home keeper. The miss could have assumed a greater degree of significance when BNFL carved out an excellent opening only for Dempsey to come to his teams aid once again with a superb fingertip save. Another magnificent save soon followed when BNFL’s striker somehow failed to take advantage of a blatant offside but still couldn’t beat the visitor’s keeper with three attempts from point blank range.

The Wasps second half superiority paid dividends when Barr converted to notch up a well-deserved hat-trick to cap a hugely impressive team performance. Understandably, Player Manager Mitchell was delighted with the result declaring that  “it was the sort of game you’d have been happy to pay good money to watch” and concluded that “it was good to see all the hard work from the training ground paying dividends at last.”  

Wasps Rating: *****

Star Man: This was a truly momentous team performance with all eleven players capable of laying claim to the award, however Ian Barr shades it by virtue of his hat-trick.  

Team: Dempsey, Lamb, White, Tittle, Mackie I, Mackie A, McKay, Mitchell, Torgersen, Elder, Barr.     

Match 14

13 March 2004  @ Coronation Park

West Kirby Wasps Vets 2  Dave Dooley Select XI 3 

WASPS HUNG BY THE DOOLEYS

In 1979 “Wanted” and “the Chosen Few” were synonymous with another team of Dooleys  - these clearly at their peak in British popular music culture. Twenty-five years later these ditties clearly struck a chord with their namesakes from Birkenhead, who were able to field a seasoned former England international among their starting eleven and in the process inflict a second successive home defeat upon the West Kirby men.

Despite their illustrious opponents the Wasps will feel that the opportunity to enhance their reputation with a much-needed morale boosting victory, was again denied them by some profligate finishing.

Indeed it was the home side who made all the early running and it came as no surprise when the Wasps got off the mark when Ian Barr ran on to a slide rule pass to open the scoring after 20 minutes, to register his ninth goal of the campaign.

Prompted by Lucozade’s former pin up, resplendent in lurid green lycra (albeit with “dodgy” calves), the visitors gradually came back into the game carving out a number of chances. At times though it appeared some of the Wasps players were transfixed by what was taking place before them, however the unpredictability of the pitch soon provided a reality check that it was indeed Coronation Park and not the Maracana they were contending with.

After a couple of hazardous moments for the Wasps rearguard, the visitors reduced the arrears when McDonough got his head on the end of a right wing cross to squeeze the ball home at the near post.

Half Time: Wasps 1 Dooleys 1

With the slope in their favour the Wasps will feel aggrieved that it was not them but their opponents who had the impetus at the start of the second period. This was brought home when after “60 minutes of sheer hell”, Barnes struck a majestic volley with his unorthodox foot into the roof of the net from the edge of the area. Even allowing for 79 caps and 11 goals for his country you would be hard pressed to remember a cleaner strike.

Unperturbed the Wasps response was instantaneous, McKay’s probing run paying dividends when Hayes rash challenge on Barr resulted in a needless penalty. Despite the keeper going the right way, McKay duly converted to register his fifth penalty of the season and maintain his impressive 100% record from 12 yards. Clearly if Mr Houllier is looking for someone to relieve Saint Michael from his responsibilities, then he need look no further than the boy McKay who has taken this artform to a different level.

With the Wasps superior fitness level starting to show there only seemed one outcome. The Wasps will feel they should have put the result beyond doubt, but were unfortunate when Barr’s exquisite chip hit the top of the bar.   

With the game petering out into a draw, the visitors took advantage of some hesitancy in the home defence with McDonough expertly hooking the ball home. For the remaining five minutes the Wasps laid siege to their opponents goal but were unable to covert any of the succession of corners.

Coach Mike Jones bemoaned his sides lack of luck, the poor state of the pitch and the lack of passion shown by his players “we just don’t hurt enough when we lose“. Dave Dooley in comparison was probably contemplating how his chosen few had masterminded victory in the style of their 70’s namesakes.   How ironic then that one of the songs that eventually eclipsed “The Chosen Few” in the charts that year was a certain “Can’t Stand Losing (You)”.

Wasps Rating: ***

Star Man: Playing just off lone striker Barr, McKay was back to his imperious best and his performance was duly rewarded with another successful penalty straight from the coaching manual. 

Team: Dempsey, Adams, Mabon, Tittle, Smith, (Dempsey 25 mins), Simpson, Torgersen, Parker, McKay, Mitchell, Barr.

Match 13

28 February 2004  @ Coronation Park

West Kirby Wasps Vets 0 Liverpool Ramblers IV 2

NO STROLL IN THE PARK FOR WASPS

After the euphoria of their hard earned victory against Merseyside Police’s finest, the West Kirby men were brought back to earth with a bump against it has to be said, far younger opposition.

On a difficult surface the first half produced very little constructive football with the visitors going closest when Gavin cleared spectacularly off the Wasps goal-line with the Rambler’s striker already thinking about his celebration. The only other action worthy of note was when the normally mild-mannered Wasps full back Fryer took exception to a late challenge and decided to extract retribution by squaring up to the offender. However referee Shone’s swift intervention diffused the situation and the “handbags at ten paces” quickly forgotten.

Half Time Wasps 0 Ramblers 0

The second half was equally uninspired with both defences on top. The turning point came early in the second half when defensive lynchpin Wright pulled up with a hamstring strain and fellow centre back Caldicott was also forced to retire early after picking up a knock from one of his full blooded challenges.

Naturally this gave the impetus to the visitors and they took advantage of their numerical advantage, when their striker fired home with ten minutes left. Almost immediately the Wasps rearguard was breached again when the Ramblers striker ran on to a hopeful through-ball lobbing Dempsey in the process.

With the season drawing to a close and the transfer window firmly shut, the next few weeks will severely test the threadbare resources Manager Mitchell still has left at his disposal. 

Wasps Rating: **

Star Man: Prior to their respective premature departures, both Caldicott and Wright had formed a very strong defensive barrier that rarely looked like being breached. However debutant Gavin earns the vote for his all round endeavour looking equally accomplished in the centre of defence as he had done at right back in the first period.

Team: Dempsey, Gavin, Smith (Fryer 20 mins), Caldicott, Wright, Parker, White, Paul, McKay, Mitchell, Barr.  

Match 12

24th February 2004

Wasps Vets 2   Wirral Masters 1

Vintage Vets sparkle under floodlights

On a night when many eyes were focussed on European Champions League football, Bebington Oval was the place to be as it played host to an entertaining encounter between two closely matched rivals.  

This was the second fixture between the sides, following a narrow 3-2 defeat for the Orange Men earlier in the season and, having been unlucky to lose that game to a controversial late goal, Wasps Vets took revenge in style as they fought their opponents tooth and nail throughout the 86 minutes. The referee either needs a new watch or new spectacles for his next Christmas present…in fact he also needs to get on a fitness programme, but let’s not digress. 

After Wasps last fixture was played on a pitch suitable only for Greasby Swamp Donkeys, it was a welcome change to be playing on a surface that enabled some attempt at football and the Vets came out in force with 14 men available for selection to new Manager Mike Jones, who was recently appointed on the back of his promise that he’d bring a trophy to the club in his first season in charge. 

At least I think he said “A Trophy”…it could have been “atrophy”, which is a decrease in the size of an organ through disuse. I’m sure many Vets are already familiar with this condition.

The match kicked off with Wasps having a stiff breeze at their backs but the Masters had the better of the early exchanges as they took control of midfield and launched a series of attacks, particularly down the right flank. Fortunately the Wasps defence was in no mood to concede and Dave Allen was in excellent form and dealt with everything that came his way with a cool assuredness. There were three separate appeals for hand ball in the penalty area but the referee turned a deaf ear, a blind eye and an ample gut to the Masters shouts…add a hearing aid to that Christmas list I mentioned.

The gaffer (he likes that word, thinks it makes him sound like a proper manager) decided to make a couple of changes midway through the half just as Ian McNelis latched on to a through ball and lifted a lob over the advancing ‘keeper but unfortunately it landed beyond the goal assisted by the wind. The striker was immediately replaced, showing that this new manager was not going to accept failure of any kind. He’s a tough man to please but I’ve always liked him.

So on came the Mackie brothers – the lanky streak up front and the younger model in centre midfield sporting his new Predator boots. The effect was immediate – Andy shot with the outside of his foot from 35 yards and the ball flew a couple of yards wide. These boots just don’t swerve the ball as much as they do on the television – I’d demand a refund if I was him.

Half time arrived and Mr.Jones was pleased with the performance of his players in the last 15 minutes. A motivational team talk followed, can’t remember what he said but it was truly inspirational and I think he’s going to be a fantastic manager. He really knows what he’s doing and I can see him going all the way to the top. Anything I can do to help him get there, he only needs to ask…I’ll be right with him all the way.  (Am I picked for the next game yet, Sir?)

Anyway, back to the action. Wasps came out in the second half determined to continue where they had left off in the first half. An enforced change was made when Neil Mitchell sulked off the pitch saying he had to go home as his Ovaltine would be ready and he didn’t want it to go cold. But the receding hairline clearly showed traces of a thumbprint etched into his forehead.

The referee was starting to upset the Wasps concentration with his failure to award free kicks against an increasingly belligerent opposition and after issuing central defender Mike Wright with a threat to get the handcuffs out if he didn’t behave himself he further irritated the Vets players by failing to give offside against two Masters forwards which led to their opening goal. 

In past matches Wasps may have crumbled to defeat following such a setback but with everyone keen to impress the new manager there was no danger of slacking this time and the boys responded positively as they swept forward with some dangerous attacks.

By now the midfield was working well as a unit with Dave Westby becoming an increasingly influential figure with his simple but effective passing game. Mark White  was also seeing plenty of the ball down the left hand side and it was from his sliderule pass that resulted in Wasps levelling the score. Iain Mackie was on the receiving end and he turned his marker with a neat flick before unleashing an unstoppable (ha!) left foot shot that went through the ‘keepers legs into the far corner from a tight angle. Thierry Henry would have been proud of the finish (in my dreams!!).

Iain Mackie came close to a second after beating two defenders and shooting into the side netting, whilst Ian McNelis (back on as a second half substitute) was desperately unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet when he cleverly looped the ball goalwards only to see a defender arrive in the nick of time to head it off the line.

The game could have gone either way but the winner came for Wasps when the home teams left back clearly controlled the ball with his arm as it was about to reach an unmarked Wasps forward and the referee had no option but to award a penalty kick.

Up stepped Mr.Cool himself, Neil McKay. He finished with aplomb, a clean strike to the ‘keepers right into the corner of the net. Could the Wasps hold on for a confidence-boosting win?

Only just! Wirral Masters pressed forward in search of an equaliser and following an exquisite cross from the right the ball landed on the head of an unmarked opposition player, approximately two feet away from the goal. The cheer went up as the ball headed towards the open net…and then hit the post and rolled along the goal line to safety. An unbelievable miss!

The final whistle soon followed and Wasps had secured a narrow 2-1 victory that they just about deserved against a well-organised side. This was a good performance and showed the new manager what he can expect given the right conditions. The priority for next season surely has to be finding a decent pitch for our home games so we can put in more performances like this.

Well done to everyone who played, no-one looked out of place in a good all round team performance.

Man Of The Match – The Wasps defence was resolute and Mike Wright a rock throughout. However his performance was eclipsed only by Shaun Turner, whose overall distribution and attacking instinct gave him the edge.

Match 11

14 February 2004   Venue: Coronation Park

West Kirby Wasps Vets 3   SNFC 0

VALENTINES DAY MASSACRE FOR LUCKLESS SABBATH BOYS

West Kirby Wasps returned to winning ways following a comprehensive victory over their opposition to record their first victory of the new year. On a glue pot of a pitch that resembled the Baseball Ground during its heyday, there was little scope for fluent attractive football, but clearly the home team adapted far better to the swamp-like conditions than their opponents. 

Indeed the opening goal was testament to this when Mackie latched on to a fortuitous bounce before shaking off his markers to finish with some style. Mackie then saw his towering header crash against the upright before McKays goalbound shot was clawed away by defender Silverwood with the goalkeeper stranded. McKay then duly dispatched his spot kick to maintain his 100% success rate from twelve yards. 

Fleetingly SNFC created some half chances and only some profligate finishing from White and astute defending prevented them from reducing the arrears.      

Half Time: Wasps 2 SNFC 0

Struggling to come to terms with the monsoon like conditions SNFC were soon “treading water” in the face of the Orangemen’s onslaught.  With Neil McKay revelling in the space behind lone striker Iain Mackie, it was only a matter of time before the Wasps added to their tally. This time it was the younger of the Mackie family, Andy adding his name to the honours, side footing home from 8 yards following good work from brother Iain. 

For the remainder of the half the Wasps laid siege to their opponent’s goal and it was only due to a combination of excellent goalkeeping and resolute defending that kept the score down. Mackie and McKay will feel disappointed that they were unable to add to their tally and this was exemplified 5 minutes from time when the latter somehow succeeded in troubling the frame of the goal and his knee rather than the scoreline.

Wasps Rating: *** 

Star Man: A solid rather than spectacular team performance, in conditions that could only be described as a lottery. In the absence of an out and out second striker, McKay excelled in an unfamiliar role in front of the midfield, with his intelligent running and effective link play. Only he will know why he wasn’t able to walk away with the match ball at the end ! 

Team: Dempsey, Fryer (Wright 45 mins), Turner, Adams, Mabon, Parker, (Mackie 45 mins), Moreton, McKay, Mitchell, Torgerson, Mackie.

Match 10

Date: 18th January 2004    Venue: Irby CC, Irby

Irby CC Vets 6   West Kirby Wasps Vets 3

The Wasps dismal run of form continued following another embarrassing defeat at the hands of derby rivals Irby. This was the club’s third consecutive loss and you would have to go back as far back as November to the greatest day in English rugby history to recall the last time the orangemen registered a victory.

Ironically enough the omens had been encouraging, boosted on the eve of the game with the news that the registration of veteran playmaker and former playboy Carl Gidman had been received in sufficient time to enable him to make his long awaited debut. Phil Wright was also given his first start in an orange shirt alongside elder brother Mike, both however failing to launch the team to the heights that the illustrious aviation pioneers had reached at the turn of the century.

However two goals conceded in the first ten minutes virtually condemned the Wasps fate, with their inability to close down the opposition cruelly exposed. An indication of how events were likely to take a turn for the worse soon surfaced when uncharacteristically and with the goal at his mercy, McNelis somehow managed to hit the bar from five yards out.  The significance of this was soon strikingly apparent when Irby added a third, breaching the Wasps rearguard once again.

Barr reduced the arrears almost immediately breaking through the Irby defence to coolly finish and give the Wasps some fresh impetus with half time looming. However the imperious Marland, a recent Wasps transfer target and sporting a Souness-like moustache from a bygone era, went through the Wasps defence unchallenged to add a fourth.

Half Time: Irby 4 Wasps 1

The half time team-talk and “hairdryer” like rollicking given by the Wasps coaches must have worked wonders as the Wasps shook themselves out of their lethargic malaise and took the game to their opponents.  Unfortunately luck was not on their side as Irby quickly added to their score and the Wasps were hit with a double blow losing Barr and Wright (Jr) to injury in quick succession.

Forced to play the last 30 minutes with ten men the Wasps responded when first McKay converted a penalty to record his sixth goal of the season and following the best move of the game McNelis atoned for his earlier miss converting Wright’s pinpoint cross to peg back the hosts.

With the clock running down Irby added the final nail in the coffin with a well taken sixth.

Wasps Rating: **

Star Man: Mabon and Gidman both made encouraging first starts and will no doubt benefit from further matches. However their performances were eclipsed by Ian “Mr Dependable” Adams who restored to his favoured right back role gave a no-nonsense and often pugnacious performance in the face of adversity, responding magnificently to the criticism that had been levelled at him in recent weeks, following his much publicised touchline spat with Assistant Coach Jones.

Team: Dempsey, Adams, Mabon, Wright, Allen, Gidman, McKay, Mitchell, Torgerson (Wright 40 mins), McNelis, Barr

Match 9

Date: 10th January 2004     Venue: Coronation Park, Greasby

West Kirby Wasps Vets 0  Saltney Vets 4

You know when you've been Saltneyed

The first game of 2004 produced a 5-star performance…unfortunately it was the opposition who turned on the style with a display of pass and move football that left the Wasps players and supporters gazing in admiration at their opponents as they switched the ball effortlessly from one side of the pitch to the other and then exposed the makeshift home defence with ease.

The fact that the score was a fairly respectable 4-0 was a reflection on the magnificence of goalkeeper Barry Dempsey’s performance and some profligate finishing that would have produced some classic ‘You’ve been framed’ moments had the Sky cameras decided to televise this game rather than Sunday’s much less interesting fixture at Old Trafford.

Before the game there was a rumour going round the changing room that the opposition had some ex-pros. A couple of the home team were quick to get out on to the pitch to check this out but were disappointed to find the opposition were in fact all male. They were soon cheered by the possibility that manager Dave Mackay might pull them off at half time.

The first half kicked off with Wasps playing with the slope and what wind there was on a pitch that was more appropriate for female mud wrestling than veterans’ football. Thinking about it, that would have been a lot more fun for us all than being humiliated by a football team that had obviously been playing together for quite some time.

The men in orange managed to hold on for the first 15 minutes before conceding the first goal, which predictably came from a corner. Opposition scouts had clearly been watching videos of Wasps previous games and were well aware of their weakness from set-pieces. The corner was half cleared by the ‘keeper to the edge of the penalty area but a return header struck the bar before being smashed home by a Saltney forward as Wasps defenders stood motionless.

Somehow the scoreline remained at 1-0 until half-time with Wasps managing just one shot on goal that went tamely wide. Mike Marland worked tirelessly in midfield and was at the centre of any Wasps passing movements but the home strikers were well shackled by an effective defensive unit and the visiting ‘keeper had nothing to do. He couldn’t even be bothered to take the goal kicks, preferring to delegate the responsibility to his full backs.

After a half time motivational team talk the home side came out for the second half determined to keep the score down to less than ten. Two more goals were conceded following corner kicks as the visitors enjoyed the run of the ball in the Wasps penalty area but the hosts could have no complaints at the scoreline after watching Barry produce a stunning set of saves that any Premiership goalkeeper would have been proud of and seeing a series of comical open goal misses that even Emile Heskey might have buried…but then again he probably would have fallen over as well.

It is generally recognised that a good way of improving your game is to play against superior opposition...and there were certainly some things that Wasps can learn from the Saltney experience. Firstly, the communication on the pitch was in a different league – the visitors were vocal throughout the side, letting each other know if they were in space and calling options if players were available to receive the ball. Wasps’ players desperately need to improve this aspect of their game and no progress will be made until this is addressed.

Secondly the opposition clearly demonstrated how easy the game can be played when you create space by moving when you do not have possession of the ball, giving the ball carrier a number of options.

Finally, a number of Wasps players came into the dressing room talking about incidents on the adjacent pitch…a clear indication that the home side simply gave up in the latter stages.

So, plenty of food for thought from this first game of the New Year.

No doubt about the man of the match award this week – a top class goalkeeping performance by Barry Dempsey.

FORM GUIDE

With half the season effectively gone the Wasps Vets record reads as follows: 

Goalscorers:

7 - Barr , 4 – McKay, Mackie,  3 – Jones, 2 – Fryer, 1 - Turner, Bradley, White, McNelis, Tittle and o.g.

MoM Awards 

2 – Mackie, Barr,

1 - Jones, Gooden, Torgerson, & McKay

Match 8

Date: 16th December 2003     Venue: Bebington Oval

The Wasps were unable to arrest their recent demise and slipped up for the second game in succession following a keenly fought contest against their old adversaries Wirral Masters (Police Vets) at the Oval. Despite taking the lead twice they were unable to hold on to their slender advantage and the hosts were able to claim a victory that they scarcely deserved.

The major change to the starting eleven was the absence of Assistant Coach Jones, ruled out for the season with a damaged cruciate ligament. However Player Manager Mitchell’s plans were thrown into disarray when two of his protégés, Wright and Adams were late arrivals having been caught up in heavy traffic congestion on route to the stadium. 

However the Wasps got off to the perfect start when from their first attack Fryer opened the scoring to become the quickest goalscorer in the clubs history. An incisive pass from Wasps Captain Mitchell was expertly finished by Fryer ghosting in on the far post to double his tally for the season, forcing some of the more critical hacks to eat humble pie, following comments pre- season as to whether the “journeyman” player was worth a place in the squad let alone the starting eleven.

 From a position of ascendancy the Wasps immediately pressed the self- destruct button. Having to deal with a long hopeful punt should have been a matter of routine for the normally assured Turner, however a moments hesitation enabled Reay the livewire Masters striker to cash in with a piece of clinical finishing.

 For the remainder of the half the Wasps had the greater share of possession, with McKay pulling the strings in midfield and Mackie full of intelligent running. The Wasps should have restored their advantage on the stroke of half time when Torgerson set off on a mazy run down the right wing, only to undo all his fine work with a weak cross, with his team-mates lining up ready to pull the trigger.

 Half Time: Wasps 1 Wirral Masters 1  

Wasps Rating: *** 

Match 7

Date:  29th November 2003    Venue: Coronation Park, Greasby

Wasps left in a Lather

The Wasps topsy turvy season continued following a reversal at the hands (“that do dishes”) of Port Sunlight with the visitors extracting revenge following their defeat earlier in the season.

The Wasps were forced to field an under strength squad with so many key players away on international duty, with Glendinning, Hayes and Simms getting their first starts to the season. 

Against the run of play the Wasps opened the scoring when Iain Mackie fired home spectacularly following a weak clearance by the visitor’s keeper. Sunlight almost reduced the arrears immediately when Dempsey was forced into a point blank save following a corner. However poor marking at the next corner was duly punished when Dempsey’s desperate attempts to keep the ball out only succeeded in the ball ricocheting of Gooden’s backside into the net.

Within minutes Mackie added his second of the game running on to score emphatically inside the far post following another surging run. However it was all too soon a case of déjà vu when from yet another corner Port Sunlight equalised.  White’s impression of a “Garry Owen” only succeeded in placing his goalkeeper under unnecessary pressure and the keeper will be bitterly disappointed that his subsequent punch could only divert the ball into the roof of the net.

 Half Time: Wasps 2 Port Sunlight 2  

 Wasps Rating: ** 

Match 6

West Kirby Wasps returned to winning ways with an emphatic six goal blast against their well-heeled opponents. The men from Northampton may point to the absence of 3 key players but in fairness the Wasps found themselves in a similar position. The Wasps management being forced to call on the services of rookie full back Kevin Moreton and midfielder Andy Mackie, who along with older brother Iain shared the distinction of being the first brothers to have played in the team together at this level. 

On a heavy surface the Wasps made all the early running and their slick passing game using the full width of the pitch put their opponents immediately on the defensive. The Wasps opened their account when Jones ran onto a through ball and drew the keeper before dispatching with an inch perfect chip. Within 10 minutes Jones added his second, this time eluding the keepers charge before coolly slotting home from the narrowest of angles. 

With the Wasps in the ascendancy, Northampton offered little in return and it came as no surprise when White slotted home from close range after the Northampton defence had gone walkabout.  On the stroke of half time the Wasps put the game beyond doubt when Fryer sprung the offside trap before squaring unselfishly for Barr to side-foot home from six yards.  

Team: Dempsey, Moreton, Mackie, Simpson, Adams (Fryer 46 mins), Mackie, Jones, Mitchell, White, Torgerson, Barr.

Match 5

Wasps Stumped

Match 4

Match 3

Seven Up Orange

Match 2

Orange  Crush !!

Half Time: Wasps 1 Port Sunlight 2

Wasps Rating: **

Team: Mitchell, Torgerson, Fryer, Turner, Wright,  McNelis (Bradley 35 mins), McKay, Barr, Allen (Colligan 15mins), Mackie, Jones