Cobham 37 v Wimbledon RFC 1XV 6
This was a game the Wimbledon players and their supporters would prefer to forget. Not only were they soundly beaten by the better side on the day, but the manner of their defeat was disappointing too.
There was no shortage of commitment, but the three-quarter line had never played together before, and the lack of understanding between them showed. Their cause was not helped by the slow ball they got from both the set piece and the rucks.
Cobham, by contrast, were well-organised and accomplished, their backs revelling in the ample quick ball their pack provided – and the whole team refusing to give away possession.
It couldn't have started much worse for Wimbledon, conceding a try after just two minutes following a Cobham break through non-existent defence straight from the kick-off.
And then it was a full 20 minutes before Wimbledon got into Cobham’s half, by which time a pushover try from the home team had put them 10-0 ahead. A well-struck penalty from Wimbledon’s Leon Driscoll reduced the deficit, only for Cobham to extend their lead immediately by a further five points.
A second Driscoll penalty kept Dons just about in touch at half time, but a good drive by the Cobham pack ten minutes into the second half produced a fourth Cobham try and the game looked beyond the visitors, who just couldn't manage to hang on to possession for more than a phase or two.
A neat cross kick into the winger's arms gave Cobham their fifth try, followed by another pushover and then a final flourish from their backs to produce the sixth and only converted try.
March 10, 2011
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