Wimbledon win 54-33 at Oxford Harlequins

BY ANDY HODGSON

A 13-try bonanza of a game which the referee assessor described as the best he has seen this season – albeit perhaps a little too exciting at times for those supporting the claret and blue.

Wimbledon opened the scoring virtually from the kick-off with a lovely Jack Reville try in less than two minutes, converted to make it 7-0.

This was followed by about eight minutes of 50-50 play in the middle of the park before Oxford Quins won the first of their scrum penalties, kicked for the corner and won the lineout. One of their front five then broke from the maul and scored near the middle and also converted.

A kicking away of possession led to another OQ try in the corner that was again converted to make it 14 – 7 after 20 minutes.

Almost immediately after a strong Wimbledon build up, Brad Pinkham scored another converted try for 14-14.

After 25 minutes and a great run by Ollie Kitto, Mark Scott scored and Wimbledon were back in front after the conversion.

Wimbledon were again building up the pressure when Mark Scott was injured and had to leave the field. The pressure continued and the Dons scored again after 36 minutes when Zane Dallinger scored after a penalty to Dons. It was converted to make it 24-14.

Zane Dallinger scored again on the stroke of half-time.

There was a little pressure from OQs at the start of the second half plus a few stoppages – their number eight went off injured – before a break by Dallinger and an offload to Kitto for a try took the score to 40-14.

More pressure from OQs resulted in nothing and after 52 minutes, and a couple of Dons penalties, Jake Farnworth scored again.

Oxford Quins fought back to cut the deficit to 47-33 before the Dons got their mojo back. Wimbledon were good again in the final 10 minutes and a massive scrum drive saw Matt Grobler score near the posts without the need of the awarded penalty.