Broadstreet 29 – 41 Wimbledon

National League 2 South. 14.4.18
Broadstreet 29 – 41 Wimbledon

At 15-0 down after 20 minutes and trailing 29-19 after 50 minutes – and not playing at all well – it looked as though Wimbledon’s hopes of avoiding relegation were about to be dashed. But a great comeback in the last half hour produced a well-earned 29-41 win.
Despite the spring sunshine Dons got off to the gloomiest of starts, conceding a try to Broadstreet’s flanker Idehen after just 3 minutes, despite a glaring forward pass and a great cover tackle by fullback Matt Gilbert. Things got worse when centre Gav Tusini was harshly yellow-carded and for the next 10 minutes only desperate defence, including a try-saving tackle by wing Kieran Morris, prevented further scores, until that is, Broadstreet lock Rhodes powered over from a 5m lineout and Glover converted. Shortly after he kicked another 3 points from one of the increasing number of penalties won by the home team.

Having just had a try disallowed for a forward pass, scrum-half Harry Tabb at last got Dons on the scoreboard with 10 minutes left before the break, after the pack won a scrum 5m out and launched a series of pick and drives. James Doe put over an excellent conversion from the touchline. Then with just 4 minutes left, wing Sam O’Leary Blade got the ball (for the first time in the match) jinked through half a dozen Broadstreet players and outpaced the defence to score a lovely individual try, again converted by Doe.

Dons will want to forget the opening period of the second half, when a series of missed tackles allowed Broadstreet fullback Hudson to run in a soft try, converted by Glover. But they fought back immediately, when flanker Chris York made the most of a 25m drive by his pack to score in the corner, only to then concede another soft try after a needless penalty was quickly taken and wing Boxall dived in for the try. Glover’s conversion gave the home side a 10 point lead.
Having for 75 minutes looked a shadow of the side that performed so well last week, Wimbledon suddenly seemed to realise that they ought to be beating this opposition and began to get over the gain line time and again through strong drives by locks Dylan Flashman and Andy Hore plus backrowers Dan Laventure, Chris York and replacement Niall McSweeney, one such producing good ball for Doe to score beneath the posts and convert his own try. That was the try bonus point…now they needed the 4 for a win – and the re-vitalised Dons ensured they got it, through two fine tries by man-of-the-match, no.8 Dan Laventure, the first after a storming run by Tusini. The second saw Laventure break from a strong forward drive and make the 15m to the line whilst fighting off 3 defenders! Doe converted the first of Laventure’s tries then rounded off the scoring with a well-struck penalty conversion.

Just 2 more wins out of the 2 remaining games required now, the first at home next week against Redcliffians.