Guildford 14 – 29 Wimbledon

Wimbledon notched up their 7 th try-bonus point from nine matches this season with a
14-29 win over a highly competitive Guildford on Saturday. They didn’t achieve the
dominance they have in several of their games but this was mainly due to Guildford’s
effective set scrum and their line speed. The difference though was Dons’ control at
half back through Rhys Morgan and Bryan Croke, some strong runs by the forwards –
led as usual by no.8 Roy Godfrey – and slick handling by the backs, all of which
ensured they took their chances well while pressurising Guildford into missing theirs.

The home team started like a train, when a half-asleep Wimbledon watched as G’s
fullback, Dan Peyton, jinked through for a fine solo try after just four minutes, easily
converted by Freddie Hooper. But within two minutes Dons equalised when lock
Sean Renwick touched down from a powerful drive following a confident decision to
kick a penalty for a lineout rather than take three points.

For the next 15 minutes play surged back and forth before Croke kicked his side into
G’s 22 and another fine drive ended with wing Josh Charles touching down. Croke’s
conversion made it 7-14.

Guildford came back hard but Dons’ defence held and on 30 minutes a breakout down
the left wing and lovely hands acrossfield gave wing Dave Bennett the 1/2m he
needed to dummy inside then out around his man for try no.3. This time Croke’s
conversion attempt hit the upright. Neither side could gain any ascendency for the
final 10 minutes of the half.

The second half began the same way, before Dons’ back pressured G’s into a penalty,
and Croke broke the deadlock with three points. It stayed at 7-22 until 25 minutes,
when a trademark Croke chip was seized by the ever-alert centre Aaron Lowe, who
powered over for try no.4 with Croke adding the extras. But then the maestro was
adjudged to have deliberately knocked on and sent to the bin, and from the ensuing
penalty G’s pack won a penalty try, and a yellow for Dons’ flanker Gary Crowe in his
attempt to prevent it.

Down to 13 men for the final 5 minutes plus injury time Dons showed their mettle by
denying G’s all but scraps of possession to keep them out range of the try line and
earn a very satisfactory win, putting them in a three-way tie for second place in the
league, just 2 points behind leaders Tonbridge Juddians.

The league takes a break next weekend, after which Wimbledon are at home to
struggling Colchester.