Wimbledon 15 – 18 Chobham

This was a game Wimbledon will want to forget. Despite some frenetic play and poor passing, a good try apiece from wings Peter Scott and Josh Charles put them just about deservedly 10-3 ahead at half time. Had both tries and several kickable penalties been converted Wimbledon would have been out of sight – but with an ankle injury to no.10 Tom Carter, Dons’ only kicker on the field, that was not to be.

The second half didn’t start too well for Wimbledon, with a slightly dubious yellow card for flanker Brooke Weck, but it picked up soon after when a delicate chip ahead from no.8 Gary Crowe was well-gathered by the speedy Charles for a try in the corner. (By then he and fellow winger Scott must have wondered what they’d done to deserve so little ball.)

Then the rot set in; a yellow card for James Watkins reduced Dons to 14 again, a mounting penalty count kept giving hard-earned possession and territory back to Chobham, as did a series of bewildering wrong options made by normally savvy Wimbledon players. A resurgent Chobham seized their chance to score first through their no.9 Barnes and then through a second penalty for no.10 Seers to bring the score to 15-11.

With all the momentum now behind the visitors another score looked inevitable. And so it was, just before full time, when Seers rounded off a good game by scoring the winning try and converting from the touchline.

The losing bon us point will be of little consolation to Wimbledon, given the four, or even five, that went begging.

Next week Dons travel to Cobham, where it is hoped normal service will be resumed.