Wimbledon win 31-24 at Bracknell with late penalty kick settling the nerves

Wimbledon travelled to Bracknell expecting a close match and so it turned out, the result only being confirmed on 76 minutes with a penalty kick awarded in front of the Bracknell posts to give Wimbledon’s Ed Morgan a straightforward kick to stretch the lead to seven points.

Bracknell had mounted a second-half onslaught, clawing back from a 21-7 deficit at the interval.

The outcome earned the home team both losing and try bonus points but the final minutes were nail-biting for the crowd present.

The referee was very tight on granting injury time and his final whistle was welcome to the Wimbledon team, even as Morgan had settled nerves a few minutes earlier.

With a sloping pitch giving some advantage, the away team had first use of the slope and set to work quickly and on two minutes following a series of pick-and-go drives hooker Harry Scoble forced his way over in the corner, outside half Ed Morgan kicked his first conversion.

The score was repeated on nine minutes by blindside flanker Mark Scott following a five-metre lineout, again converted.

Bracknell seemed to wake up and there was a period of fiercely contested play in the central third of the pitch before a burst through by Wimbledon into the home team’s 22-metre area, a clearance kick was charged down and fullback Ally Duddell scored Wimbledon’s third try with Morgan converting it.

Bracknell attacked immediately and a 40-metre break by their outside half led to a try by their winger Noah Cannon which was converted by fullback Jake Findley to complete the half.

Playing up the slope the Wimbledon side changed to using their heavy ball carriers with lock Jack Cooke and blindside Mark Scott especially prominent making big impacts on defenders.

Just 12 minutes into the second half and Bracknell hooker Jasper Miranda forced his way over after a driving maul from a lineout, the result of a midfield penalty against Wimbledon and with the conversion missed, the score of 21-12 made Wimbledon concentrate.

Wimbledon’s lead was stretched when wing Olly Kitto spotted a gap and outstretched the defenders from about 30 metres to score the crucial bonus point try near the posts, a straightforward conversion for Morgan took the score to 28-12.

On 65 minutes Bracknell scored their third try, again through winger Cannon and again unconverted from near the touchline.

The fourth came on 75 minutes to go to 28-24 through blindside George Milligan and the Wimbledon supporters started biting their nails and watching the clock.  Matters were calmer on the pitch with Bracknell conceding the penalty which Morgan, after careful preparation, kicked to seal the victory.

Next Saturday the league takes a break and Wimbledon do not play until they face Banbury at home on November 26 (2.15pm kick-off).