Wimbledon 33 - 22 Chichester

This was a vintage all-round team performance from Wimbledon, against a Chichester side dead set on victory to keep alive their promotion hopes. And the visitors started well, keeping possession for most of the first twenty minutes (aided by no fewer than eight penalties in their favour) during which wing Robson opened their scoring after a rare lapse in Wimbledon's defence. Dons made up for it moments later when some hefty hits won possession midfield and centre Neil Hallett jinked through for a nice try, which he then converted.

With Rob Tait cleaning up for Dons at the lineout (and no slouch around the park either) they slowly got more into the game and the pressure soon produced a Hallett converted penalty. But Chichester equalised with a pushover try from a 5m lineout after yet another penalty against Dons' pack.

With ten minutes of the half remaining Wimbledon fullback Vinnie McDonald finished off a superb passing movement that began from a lineout in his own 22 and ended in the far corner with Dons second try. Hallett rounded off a good half with a second penalty taking the score to 18-10.

The third quarter was probably the defining period of the game; reduced to 13 men after first Tait then skipper Chris Lewis were yellow-carded, Dons somehow conceded just one converted try to retain the lead. The fighting spirit that had seen them through that period became more evident as the Wimbledon pack began to get the push on Chichester in the set scrum and to beat them to the breakdown. Dons' pacey backs now looked as though they would score every time they got the ball - and they soon did. First, replacement flanker Steve May finished off a flowing move with a try in the corner. Then more great handling saw the ball reach wing Tommy Moore, who produced one of his signature runs through the opposition and, aided by the back row, bundled over in the opposite corner for try number four.

Hallett added a further penalty after another excellent passage of play from his backs and forwards alike to stretch the lead to 33-17, before a determined finishing flourish from Chichester wing Belcher gave them a fourth try and the consolation of a bonus point.

Next week Wimbledon will want to finish the league season with an equally emphatic win at home against Havant.