Rugby union: Wimbledon lose 24-10 at home to Sutton & Epsom

Things started well for Wimbledon’s attempt to avenge their narrow defeat by Sutton & Epsom back in November:

Three minutes after kick-off centre Henry Peuble darted through Sutton’s defence, passed to flanker Kain Rix who shook off two tacklers before passing neatly inside to scrum half Alex Kerr to score beneath the posts. Jake Noble converted easily.

The outweighed, makeshift Wimbledon pack were holding their own against a near full-strength opposition and the two sets of backs looked a good match for each other.

Then hooker Bradley Ugodulunwa limped off with a torn hamstring. Tighthead Malek Touilzak moved to hooker and flanker Jordan Brodley, having propped earlier in his career, took his place.

From that point Sutton took control of the set-piece and denied Dons all but scraps of possession.

Wimbledon were not helped by the huge penalty count against them – 14 in the first half alone – nor by the three yellow cards they were shown.

The first was for fullback Freddie Hooper – and from which Sutton’s Hurley kicked three points – then 10 minutes before half time it was flanker-turned-prop Jordan Brodley’s turn.

Luckily number eight Luke Cerely said he was able to play in the front row or Dons would have had to suffer the same fate as Italy last weekend and play with 13 men.

The Sutton scrum took full advantage of Dons’ re-arranged pack and soon came away with a penalty try, making it 7-10 at half time.

It took the visitors just three minutes from the restart for their number 10 O’Brien to score after a wave of attacks and Hurley’s conversion made it 7-17.

Wimbledon responded well, producing some strong attacks, only for some careless handling and a few wrong options to give the ball back to Sutton and all they had to show was a Noble penalty conversion.

Five minutes after Don’s third yellow, this time for replacement back-rower Jake Digby, their backs were outnumbered again and Hurly was able to run in their third try, which he converted to take the score to 10-24.

Soon after, Dons’ tireless captain lock Jack Cooke broke through on Sutton’s 22 with just one man to beat, only for the referee to blow up while playing a Wimbledon advantage/

Once again Wimbledon’s tackling was fearless and effective and without which Sutton’s wealth of possession and one-man advantage for 30 minutes would have added many more points.

Wimbledon are away to second-placed Sevenoaks this weekend.