Rugby union: Dons finish with 12 players but still win 19-15 at Tunbridge Wells

Wimbledon won 19-15 at Tunbridge Wells despite going down to 12 players in the closing stages of this London & SE Premier fixture.

Captain Josh Bayford was red carded after 14 minutes. The Dons went down to 12 players for several minutes at the end after a shoulder injury to hooker Dave Wayman and a yellow card to Bayford’s replacement, prop Malik Touilzak.

This resulted in uncontested scrums.

Tunbridge Wells must be rueing their failure to use the resulting overlaps when in possession despite taking the lead on 17 minutes with a try from their full-back Toby Wallace. The conversion attempt by outside half Jack Anderson was missed but a second try from a driving maul by number eight Nick Doherty increased the lead, this time converted.

It was followed by a penalty kick by Anderson to make it 15–0 at the end of a long half of 52 minutes punctuated by many injuries.

It must be said that the Wimbledon’s prospects looked bleak at this stage, the wind favouring neither side by basically blowing across the pitch.

Wimbledon’s match fitness began to tell in the second half.

Outside centre Paul Hendry took two defenders with him over the line still with supporting players outside him, the conversion was missed and a yellow card to a Wells player, the first of two they earned evened the teams up.

Wimbledon’s second try came from winger Tom Milner, this time converted by Owen Davies.

The decisive moment came late on with winger Archie Brosch, who had a good game taking the high kicks sent his way, saw a gap and from about 60 metres outstripped the pursuers to sprint in and score under the posts.

The resulting conversion from scrum-half Owen Davies was direct and suddenly Wimbledon were in the lead at 19-15.

There was still the prospect of a long period of injury time, as in the first half. But despite Wells creating heavy pressure near their line, Wimbledon’s 12 players held out against the 14 that Tunbridge Wells had on the pitch.

The home team’s failure to spread the ball against fewer defenders was costly..

All the Wimbledon playing squad gave everything in this match but and there was outstanding leadership by vice-captain Jack Cooke.

Wimbledon are at home against league leaders Dorking on Saturday (2pm kick-off).