Return To Winning Ways for the Dons


Rugby result: Wimbledon 40 – 0 CS Stags


Picture: Wimbledon RFC

This was a good return to winning ways for Wimbledon after their disappointing run of three defeats and the five point try-bonus keeps them secure in fifth spot. It was just a pity that two clear try opportunities went begging, otherwise the winning margin would have been 50+. Having said that CS Stags were no pushover and made Dons work hard for every point for the full 80 minutes, so much so that it took Wimbledon a quarter of the match to get their opening try, when a combination of centre Finn Taylor and wing Tom Milner put Owen Davies in under the posts, easily converted by the scrum half.

With their scrum very much in charge and the lineout trio of locks Ted Bunn and Tom Edwards, plus flanker Grant Paterson making a strong impression on his debut, all responding well to hooker Tyler Reichardt’s accurate throwing in, further scores looked imminent. But it was a full ten minutes before a nice break by Davies took play to 1m out and from the ruck Edwards touched down for try number two and the scrum half’s second conversion put Dons 14-0 up. Then close to half time, wing Ollie Kitto – making a welcome return from injury - took a well-timed pass from fullback Freddie Hooper to escape the close attention of his opposite number and dive over in the corner.

In the second half the Wimbledon set scrum took complete control, aided by a return after a month’s absence by skipper Josh Bayford, coming on as an injury replacement, but a rare turnover by Stags set off their best attack of the game and only strong defence by Wimbledon kept them out. Again it was 20 minutes until the next try: Hooper broke through on the half way line, took the ball 20m upfield before shipping it to centre Alex Pickersgill who outwitted two defenders to give himself a clear run into the corner and Davies slotted an excellent conversion, making it 26-0. For the next ten minutes Wimbledon camped deep in Stags’ 22 and only constant infringements kept them at bay until finally, the referee had no option but to award a penalty try.

For the final ten minutes Dons’ control of the set scrum was nullified by the introduction of uncontested scrums, courtesy of an injury to Stags’ tighthead prop. This hindered Dons’ fluid attacking play but then, five minutes from time, Fly-half Henry Peuble darted through a gap and, missing out both centres flung a 20m pass into the arms of Hooper at pace, and with no defender in sight sprinted in to score in the centre, from where, fittingly, Davies added the final score.

Hopefully the injuries to Jake Rigby, Tom Milner and Grant Paterson will not keep them out for long, as each made significant contributions. A strong team sheet will be required for next week’s match away to Havant.

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January 24, 2022