MacDonald puts her Wasps on right track
WASPS moved to within a point of Saracens with a third successive victory in the Premier 15s away at Sale Sharks.
After wins over Exeter and Loughborough, the visitors took little time to get themselves on the scoreboard first through quick-thinking by scrumhalf Claudia MacDonald.
The Wasps No.9 took the tap-and-go at a penalty against Sale for not rolling away and exposed open space down the right flank to run in a solo try from 40 metres out, converted by Meg Jones.
And after Sale turned the ball over from their own lineout, Wasps won the scrum on half-way and spread the ball wide into the hands of England fullback Ellie Kildunne who out-sprinted centre Alicia Calton to the line.
But through a series of penalties the hosts built pressure in the Wasps 22 and sent Lauren Delany breaking down the left towards the try-line. But the full-back could not evade the reach of Edel McMahon, who stymied the attack.
Sale took over control of territory and possession and on 25 minutes had their first points on the board through a Katy DaleyMclean penalty, awarded after Wasps were pinged for off their feet at the ruck.
Just before the break, a Wasps attack drew the Sale
defence more and more narrow leaving space out wide for Jones to aim a kick towards Amy Wilson Hardy in the corner – only for an unfortunate bounce to scupper the opportunity.
From a subsequent lineout Wilson Hardy was able to score to extend Wasps’
lead as the ball was worked through the hands of Jones, Gemma Rowland and Kildunne for Wilson Hardy to cross in the corner.
After Daley-Mclean thwarted an attack upon the restart by tackling Katie Mason into touch,
Wasps switched things over to the pack and a rolling maul for prop Elizabeth Crake to power over for the bonus point.
Sale finished the match the stronger side after Jones added a conversion and two penalties, creating a try for Delany late on.