Westcombe Park 15 - Wimbledon 18

There is very little to separate the ability of these two clubs, with Park winning the match at Barham Road 9-7. This match was no different, and it was only a Wimbledon penalty 36 minutes into the second half that secured victory.
At the start it didn’t look too good, Westcombe Park’s kick-off went straight into touch and the resulting Wimbledon scrum on half way was destroyed by the Park shove and shortly after a knee injury to prop Josh Bayford was a worry but he was able to return after treatment. Park were getting on top but the Wimbledon defence was being made far from the try line and Park never threatened it.
On 11 minutes, Wimbledon drove down to the Park line and after a strong driving maul, no.8 Roy Godfrey drove over the line with defenders all over him, Bryan Croke was able to convert and open the scoring.
A Park penalty for Wimbledon slipping the binding was not taken, heavy Park forward play was defended with their no.8 Campbell being caught offside.
On 23 minutes Wimbledon made a big forward drive through prop Phil Viane passing to lock Andy Hore, a kick through from Croke and the bounce allowed centre Aaron Lowe to score near the posts. Croke’s conversion attempt was missed. Park responded five minutes later when their blindside flanker Davey scored, the conversion from outside half Cameron was taken 12-7.
On 36 minutes Wimbledon made their next attack and after many phases of play, the Park scrum half earned a yellow card and Croke converted the penalty.
The next Park attack found their backs crossing and Croke was able to kick out, but at the next ruck Wimbledon hooker Jesse Muir earned a yellow card himself for side entry. Cameron made no mistake with the penalty and the half ended with Wimbledon ahead 15 – 10.

Park made a good start to the second half but a long kick from fullback Matt Gilbert gave an attack to the Park 22m area. A good Wimbledon scrum on 51 minutes led to a penalty to the Park for Wimbledon crossing in midfield, but a good lineout win and drive led to a Wimbledon penalty which took play to the Park 10m line.
A period of Park supremacy was met with strong Wimbledon defence but importantly it was still being made well away from the Wimbledon line. Park switched play across the pitch as they attempted to find a way through the tackles. As play entered the final quarter Wimbledon replacement Dan Cheers, on for Tommy Moore after a knee injury, was penalised for not rolling away after a tackle, Park kicked to the corner but a mistake in midfield led to a Wimbledon scrum however Park came again with a try scored on 68minutes by their scrum half Edwards levelling the score at 15 - 15. The conversion attempt was missed off the posts.
Park smelt victory when a Wimbledon scrum was taken against the head but a knock-on in midfield gave a Wimbledon scrum, the attack led to another penalty 35metres out and with time running out Croke make no mistake, taking the score now to 18 – 15. With the minutes ticking past Wimbledon knocked-on from the Park kick-off and made the error worse by being penalized for wheeling the Park scrum. Some obstruction by Park as they attacked finally allowed scrum half Rhys Morgan to kick the ball off into touch and Wimbledon had won this tight match with both sides showing great quality play in all phases of the game.