Glouc-Hartpury…22pts Wasps…19pts
IT WENT to the wire at the Alpas Arena as Gloucester-Hartpury made it two wins from two in the Premier 15s, but they were pushed all the way by a resilient Wasps side.
Wasps won both league encounters last season, and were never completely out of this game.
In fact, when they led 17- 19 halfway through the second half it looked as though they would edge another tight encounter by the slimmest of margins.
But Shona Powell- Hughes' try swung the game back the way of the home side and secured a valuable win.
The hosts started strongly with an excellent try from hooker Connie Powell off the back of a maul, Ellen Murphy converting, only for Wasps to respond straightaway to level the scores at 7-7 as Tova Derk scored with Lizzie Goulden adding the extras with aplomb.
A scrappy phase of play followed, but Gloucester- Hartpury captain Natasha Hunt, making her first appearance of the season really took control of the game making one excellent break as well as some critical tackles.
Gloucester-Hartpury then re-took the lead when Kelly Smith, last season's top tryscorer in the Premier 15s, who danced through the Wasps defence to open her account for this season with a fine finish. However, Wasps crossed on the stroke of half-time through flanker Sarah Mitchelson, to send the teams in level at 12-12 with all to play for.
Welsh international flanker Bethan Lewis scored Gloucester-Hartpury's third try on 44 minutes as she took a quick tap from five metres out and powered over.
But Abigail Dow scored a fine individual try for Wasps three minutes later and Goulden's conversion gave the visitors the lead for the first time.
Chances came and went but, crucially, Shona Powell- Hughes went over on the hour mark and, despite pressure being applied on both try-lines, that was it for the scoring, Gloucester- Hartpury holding out for a narrow 22-19 victory to join Harlequins on 10 points.
