WIMBLEDON HAVANT LOST THEIR TOUCH TO STAY TOP

Wimbledon’s expansive style of play – is really good to watch; their desire to keep the ball alive is
admirable and one of the reasons they remain unbeaten this season. But trying to run the ball out
of defence can be costly, as it was against Havant on Saturday. Fortunately, Dons’ defence held well
and they held only a narrow lead for a nail-biting final fifteen minutes to claim a deserved 21 – 19
win over a very useful Havant side.

With Dons’ interchangeable trio of props causing Havant’s vastly bigger opposition all sorts of
problems in the set scrums and hooker Dave Wayman’s pinpoint lineout throws, usually to the
reliable hands of Don’s captain Jack Cooke, the backs had ample opportunity to run the ball and
spread it wide. Had it not been for a couple of fumbles near the try-line and Havant’s good line
speed (aided by a rather loose interpretation of the offside laws) Wimbledon could have had more
than their two first half tries.

The first after 25 minutes, was from right wing Tom Milner, clinically finishing off a lovely backs
attack and the second – almost inevitably was scored by left wing Ollie Kitto after a perfect blindside
pass by scrum half Owen Davies. Both of his conversion attempts from the touchline narrowly
missed. A rare lapse in defence by Wimbledon allowed a nice break by Havant no.10 Knight five
minutes before halftime created a try for centre Moore taking the visitors to just a five point deficit
but a well earned penalty allowed Davies to extend the lead again to 13 – 5 at halftime.

Havant came out of the blocks fast in the second half and a wave of attacks following a Don’s error
from the kick-off yielded a converted try after four minutes. Soon after though Wimbledon opted to
kick for touch kick instead of a kickable goal and two phases after a successful lineout flyhalf Henry
Pueble cut through the defence on Havant’s 22 and raced in for try number three. The conversion
from Davies followed by another successful penalty took Don’s lead to 21 – 12 but minutes later
rather than kick for the safety of touch they made several attempts to run the ball from their own
goal-line, got turned over and conceded a converted try under the posts cutting their lead to 21 – 19
making for a nervous but thankfully scoreless fifteen minutes before the final whistle.

Next Saturday Wimbledon take on Sidcup away. Many of Saturday’s supporters will hope they go
armed with an alternative exit strategy, just in case.