Rugby union: Wimbledon earn bonus point and victory despite three yellow cards in second half at Sidcup

Wimbledon won 34-23 at Sidcup in the London and SE Premier Division – despite having three players yellow carded in the second half.

The Dons led 28-9 at the break to already bank a try bonus point.

Wimbledon were left playing with just 12 players for about five minutes with six forwards on the pitch and drove back the hosts’ attempts to score.

The referee decided two of the cards were to be fully penalised by penalty tries giving Sidcup a glimpse of a victory at 31–23.

But their own concession of a penalty in the midfield just before the end gave Wimbledon’s outside half James Moffat a long but straight kick to extend the lead to 11 points at the close of a 50-minute half.

Wimbledon broke through in the 14th minute when full-back Freddie Hooper put wing Kieran Morris away on a 35-metre run to the left hand corner, Moffat kicking the conversion.

Five minutes later the second try came when an interception by number eight Chris York allowed him to pass to hooker Josh Forrester before flanker Kain Rix crossed the line, again Moffat converted.

Sidcup’s outside half Josh Twyford kicked their third penalty before Rix got his second try after a scrum near the Sidcup posts, outside half Moffat taking the conversion to 21-9.

A Sidcup scrum near the posts was disrupted, a kick ahead was chased and right wing Ollie Kitto was able to score the bonus try under the posts. Moffat converted.

Moffat was able to take Wimbledon’s first score of the second half after 54 minutes.

Wimbledon are at home to Rochford Hundred on Saturday in a clash of the only two unbeaten sides in the division (3pm).