Wimbledon RFC 1XV 50 v Guildford 11
Wimbledon gave their supporters a confident and efficient performance against Guildford on Saturday (October 8) at Beverley Meads.
The first try came almost from the kick-off and it made such a contrast from last season to see Wimbledon on the front foot right from the start of the match to score and dominate affairs.
A maul driven into the left corner saw prop Pete Wallace bundled over by the rest of the pack, wing Leon Driscoll was unable to convert in what was to become a skilled performance from him as well.
On eight minutes, centre Scott Herrmann scored Wimbledon’s second wide out on the right wing after an offload from hooker Nathan Kemp, this time Driscoll made no mistake and Wimbledon were 12 – 0 ahead.
Worryingly for Wimbledon, Guildford's scrum was solid for most of the match but the pressure they exerted could not be turned into good possession, although they enjoyed gaining penalties from Wimbledon mistakes, one of which was converted by their outside half Tim Phelan, and a second for pulling down a maul.
When Wimbledon's turn came to force errors, Driscoll missed a fairly straight attempt at goal. After 22 minutes Wimbledon scored through Driscoll after a run that opened up the defence, converted by himself, Phelan replied for Guildford with a penalty to make the score 22 – 6. A further passage when the ball went through several pair of hands including Herrmann and flanker Ed Lewis bought a penalty in front of the posts.
One of the best passages of play came next when a solo pick-and-go by scrum half Charlie Morgan led to him running in from 30 metres, and converted by Driscoll in one of his best kicks to take the score to 29 – 6 at half-time.
The restart saw Driscoll himself getting his second try and converting it and with a lot of pressure and some injury breaks it was in the 55th minute that player-coach Nathan Kemp decided that he to wanted a try under the posts, converted once again and following this Wimbledon scored their final try from a lineout drive and flanker Karl Roche took two defenders over to score, the conversion was no problem to Driscoll and the 50 points had been reached.
Some disruptions near the end through injuries and a yellow card saw Guildford’s busy scrumhalf Ross Brooker a well-earned score near the corner and with the conversion attempt being missed by Phelan final score being Wimbledon 50 Guildford 11. This result took Wimbledon to second place in the League.
Wimbledon's next League match is away at Bognor on October 22.
October 17, 2011
|