Wimbledon 39 - Gravesend 5

Wimbledon 39 – Gravesend 5
A second Saturday of high winds and heavy rain but this time a firm pitch produced a game of movement and tries when Wimbledon played familiar opposition in Gravesend.
The first half surprised all those who saw it as Wimbledon playing with the wind on their backs scored four tries with all of them converted and two penalties as well, to leave the visitors reeling at 34 – 0. The second half was much closer with each side scoring one try and failing to convert either of them.
The scoring was opened on 12min. with a truly dumb penalty, Gravesend’s blind side flanker patted the ball back into the scrum, right in front of the referee and just 22 metres in front of the posts. Wimbledon captain Neil Hallett made no mistake and four minutes later a period of Wimbledon pressure led to the second penalty for offside in the Gravesend backs, this time 16m from the posts.
Shortly after this the ball was spilled in the Gravesend centres, Wimbledon flanker Campbell Tait hacked it on and as the ball crossed the line, he dived and scored the first try after out-sprinting the defence. There was no mistake in the conversion by Hallett nor in the three tries that followed.
On 30min following a scrum 35m out, excellent handling saw the ball swept through the midfield backs to right wing Tommy Moore who sprinted in at the corner. Then a probing run around the ruck by Rhys Morgan was tracked by fly half Bryan Croke who took the off load and was through under the posts. Finally the half was closed with a controlled lineout drive and blindside Roy Godfrey was over to give Wimbledon their first try bonus point this season.
The second half was a quieter affair, Wimbledon pinning Gravesend in their own half for much of it without managing to pierce the defence to increase the score. Towards the end Gravesend managed to camp near the Wimbledon line with a series of penalties and eventually after opting for a 5m scrum, their scrum half Jacob Bacon managed to get over the line around the blindside. The conversion was missed and that was Gravesend’s only score.
Wimbledon had the final word on 77 minutes when clever interplay on the right wing between loosehead Jesse Muir and Moore took play near to the Gravesend line, this pressure was turned into points when in a following maul, Muir was pressed over the line. Hallett’s conversion attempt was wide but no matter.
Wimbledon’s scrum was strong throughout and again the lineout secure, some injuries were sustained which meant Godfrey playing in the backs for the final few minutes but this was an emphatic win.
The match was well refereed by Mr Nick Marshall with no yellow cards being given.
Also at Beverley Meads the Wimbledon 3nd team secured a good victory against Law Society and the 2rd team playing away at Chobham similarly enjoyed a big victory to make a clean sweep of wins.
Next Saturday Wimbledon will be at home to Bracknell with a 2.30pm kick-off.