Second Half Performance Gives Dons Hard-earned Win
Rugby Result: Regional 1 South Central - Wimbledon 29 – 18 London Welsh
Picture: Wimbledon RFC/Facebook
In the end this was a good win for Wimbledon against a highly motivated London Welsh team whose backs’ line speed and aggressive defence made life difficult for Dons’ normally free-running backs whose own defence was a little erratic.
It was a typical start by Wimbledon; a clean lineout win in the opposition half, some flowing moves by the backs earning a penalty, the 5m lineout option taken, clean ball, powerful drive and hooker Harry Scoble over for a try, very well converted by Ed Morgan. They were then on the point of scoring a second but a loose pass was intercepted, the Welsh wing sped 75m up the touchline and only a heroic chase and tackle by centre Henry Peuble, supported by wing Brad Pinkham prevented a certain try. Dons were then denied one by the referee failing to play advantage and calling them back for a scrum.
From then until the closing minutes of the half Welsh had the better of the game, despite Wimbledon’s dominance at the set scrum and the lineout, where Scoble’s accurate throwing-in helped jumpers Jack Cooke and Jake Cleet to secure possession.
First, the Welsh 10 converted an easy penalty, then on 25 minutes they broke out of their own 22 and two passes later their wing was in at the corner – a well struck conversion giving them a 7-10 lead, soon increasing to 7-13 through a second soft penalty. Morgan then reduced the deficit to 10-13 with a penalty of his own and just before half time, after a series of attacks on the Welsh line, quick ruck ball went to Morgan who sliced through to score under the posts. His conversion regained Dons’ lead, but only for a minute, when the Welsh wing broke from his 10m line to sprint unhindered to score and give his team a half-time lead of 17-18.
The second half saw possession going back and forth, much like the first but this time Dons managed to contain the Welsh breakouts and prevent further scores (although but a great cover tackle by fullback Ally Duddell, they would have had one for sure.)
Fifteen minutes in a great chase by Cooke after a nice kick ahead by Morgan was rewarded with a kindly bounce and he was in for try number three, Morgan’s conversion came off the post so the lead remained perilously narrow at 22-18. But with just over ten minutes remaining great work by the forwards winning a series of penalties and 5m lineouts they drove over the Welsh line for flanker Jake Farnworth to touch down, and earn the try bonus point. Morgan made no mistake with the conversion and Wimbledon held on to their eleven point lead until the whistle.
Next week Wimbledon travel to Royal Wootton Bassett for a first ever meeting between the two clubs.
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September 19, 2022