Rugby union: Wimbledon halt losing streak as they win big against CS Stags

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 in the London & SE Premier League.

It was just a pity that two clear try opportunities went begging, otherwise the winning margin would have been by 50-plus.

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 10minutes before a nice break by Davies took play to one metre 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 full-back 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 halfway line, took the ball 20 metres 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.

Wimbledon camped deep in Stags’ 22 for the next 10 minutes and only constant infringements kept them at bay until finally the referee had no option but to award a penalty try.

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 20-metre 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 this weekend’s match away to Havant.