A solid home win

An experimental Wimbledon side duly notched up their 13 th try-bonus win of the
season against a combative Westcliff team who made the Dons work hard for their
victory in this well-refereed game.

The first half was a scratchy affair; although most of it was played in Westcliff
territory, a less than fluid Wimbledon managed only to score two tries. The first came
from Dave Bennett following a darting run from fellow-centre Jack Reville after
debutant lock Andy Hore had secured good lineout ball. Scrum half Rhys Morgan
converted, as he did a penalty on the half hour. Then flanker Dylan Thomas burst
through a maul to run in from the 22 for the second try, taking the half time score to
15-0. Unfortunately Wimbledon were now without skipper Dylan Flashman, who had
left the field with an injury.

The opening 15 minutes of the second half was the visitor’s best period of the game,
but despite a wealth of good ball they never looked like breaking Wimbledon’s
excellent defence and, against the run of play, it was Dons who scored next. After a
nice break by Morgan the ball was taken on by the forwards and four phases later fly-
half Matt Gilbert burst through for try no.3, again converted by Morgan.

But it was only in the last quarter that Wimbledon really came to life and played the
sort of rugby that has taken them to within one point of the league leaders, running in
three good tries, two converted by Morgan and one by fullback Dan Cheers. The first
was from Cheers after a jinking run following quick ruck ball just outside the
opposition 22. The tireless and increasingly dominant Dons pack then piled on the
pressure, forcing a series of rucks a metre out until Morgan was able to pick from one
and dive over.

With just a couple of minutes to go, a huge Wimbledon scrum deep in Westcliff’s half
ended with no.8 Roy Godfrey picking up from the base and charging in for the final
try of the day.

Next week Wimbledon travel to league leaders Tonbridge Juddians to play their
recently postponed match - a match that could well decide the league.