Kendal Wasps 55 - 5 Southport

HAYLEY HODGSON completed her first hat-trick for Kendal Wasps as they swept aside Southport to move four points clear at the summit of the NC North 1/2 West.

The game started at a fast pace with both sets of forwards getting stuck into each other, with some early Kendal breaks being let down by the final pass.

Kendal opened the scoring through full back Sarah Simpson, who hit the line at speed to break through the defence.

Kendal were having to work very hard to make ground as the Southport defence was very strong. But a spell of pressure resulted in tries for Hodgson and Vanessa Temple to put the Wasps in control of the game.

Southport kept coming back at the Wasps and were proving hard to handle in the forwards in particular but the Kendal defence was holding out. Just before half time Temple added her second try of the game and that brought the half time score to 24 - 0.

The second half brought plenty of changes to the Wasps team but the second half started in usual fashion with an early Wasps try as Abby Bland broke through the line and threw a dummy to beat the full back.

Temple then completed her hat trick to take her tally to 31 this season.

Southport did not give up and got a well deserved try from their scrum half.

The Southport try woke the Wasps up and Sarah Simpson got her name on the scoresheet before Hodgson completed her hat trick.

The game nearly ended with a wonder try from Emily Knowles, who beat several players on a run that nearly took her the full length of the pitch but she was bundled into touch near the line.

Forward of the match went to Laura Mason, who was strong in both attack and defence and Sarah Simpson was back of the match for another excellent display at full back.

The Wasps are at home again on Sunday against Leigh. 2pm kick off.