Colchester 18- 34 Wimbledon

Arriving at Colchester – one from bottom in the league – Wimbledon were confident
of a victory, and very possibly a try-bonus point as well. But with just 14 minutes of
the match remaining the home team were 18-17 ahead, and deservedly so too.

It all started well enough for Dons, with centre Jack Reville finishing off a flowing
backs move with a fine try in the corner. Then prop Phil Viane got a second from a
powerful forward drive after Campbell Tait had delivered good ball from a 5m
lineout. Bryan Croke’s successful conversion of both put them 0-14 up after only ten
minutes. But the rest of the half and a good chunk of the second belonged to
Colchester. Despite Wimbledon being in total charge of the set scrum the home
team’s speed to the breakdown and determination once there denied Dons all but
scraps of possession. And to make matters worse their normal rock-solid defence
became decidedly porous.

Continual pressure on Dons’ line brought Colchester’s first score 15 minutes in
through a penalty conversion by Crozier. Ten minutes later a wave of attacks
ultimately yielded them a try in the corner by Cutbush. A further ten minutes on and
full back Barton was in for their second try after a long mis-pass had put him clear on
the wing, and Crozier’s conversion gave them a 15-14 lead which they took to half
time.

But this Wimbledon squad is a tough one to beat and they slowly fought their way
back into the game, at last winning some decent possession throughout the final
quarter, when two penalties by Croke against one from Colchester’s Higgins put them
back ahead at 18-20. They cemented this hard-won win with another pushover from a
5m lineou,t touched down by lock Shawn Renwick, who then claimed a second in the
dying moments of the match in almost a repeat of the first. Croke’s conversion of both
extended the winning score to 18-34 - a slightly flattering, but nonetheless, four-try
bonus point victory.

Wimbledon’s next match is in two weeks, when they are at home to
Chichester…always a feisty affair!