Match Report
Wimbledon 23
Maidstone 18
London League 1 South By Trevor Langley
Away at Wimbledon, Saturday 16th January, 2010, Kick Off –2.15pm
Games can be won or lost at any point in the course of a match. But this was definitively won by Wimbledon in the ninth minute of added time after clawing their way back from a 15 point deficit and, arguably, lost by Maidstone in the first minute of the match when they failed to find their jumper in the line out when on the Wimbledon five-metre line. This may seem a harsh judgement, after such a heroic display in wet, sapping conditions, but it epitomised the difference between the two sides.
A feeling of disappointment in this last minute loss was heightened by the excellent start to the game, when Maidstone played some superb attacking rugby and built a healthy lead and also by the way they defended in the second half, when Wimbledon captured the momentum and tried everything to win the game. With ten minutes of regulation time to play, Wimbledon drew level at 18-18 but could only finally breach Maidstone’s defence nineteen minutes later. This was the ultimate cruelty, when a draw had seemed a fair outcome.
With Josh Pankhurst restored to hooker and Charlie Simpson coming into the second row in place of Chris Tresize, the scrum had a solid look to it. And so it proved, as they matched the Wimbledon eight in the tight. Only in the line out, where a number of crucial balls were lost, did they come off second best. Mike Molloy was restored to fly half, after missing the previous game with ‘flu and Ian Overton, a new recruit, slotted in at outside centre, allowing Craig Webb to drop to full back. With Neil Graves and Mark Ryan on the wings, the back line looked at its strongest for some time.
Maidstone started the game with real purpose and, although they spurned their first opportunity, Mike Molloy quickly got them on the scoreboard with a 40 metre penalty. A try on the quarter hour, after Molloy’s deep kick to the right corner was won back by Maidstone and finished out wide on the left by prop John O’Brien, recapturing the zest he previously brought to his back row play.
Maidstone’s back line was showing plenty of sparkle and, five minutes later extended their lead following a sharp break by Ben Cleary in his own 22. His pass to Ryan outside was quickly returned and after being stopped just short of the line, fellow centre, Overton, following up, to get the touchdown. With Molloy adding the conversion, Maidstone enjoyed a 15 point cushion.
But Wimbledon were not prepared to lie down and proceeded to show their own strengths with clever inter-passing and some dynamic running. A chip over was recaptured by the Wimbledon fly half to establish a good position in the Maidstone 22 and from the ensuing ruck, the ball was fed wide left for prop Wallace to get the touchdown. This was followed by a fine solo effort by Wimbledon full back, Dave Charles, after coming into the line and ghosting outside the defence, to touch down by the posts. With the easy conversion by Rawlinson, the margin was cut to three points.
Maidstone increased their lead to six points with a Molloy penalty and ended the half continuing to show attacking flair.
With the pitch cutting up, it was clear that the second half would offer less for the threequarters and require solid defence. Wimbledon, with their close back-up and interpassing game provided the early pressure but their efforts gained no reward early on. It was only after 20 minutes that the deficit was cut to three points when winger Rawlinson slotted an easy penalty from in front, after a previous effort had shaved the outside of the post.
A further penalty miss by Rawlinson increased the pressure on both sides but on the half hour, another penalty opportunity was then taken and the sides were level. Maidstone threw everything into defence but also attempted their own attacking forays to play the game in the Wimbledon half.
But with the minutes of stoppage time mounting, Maidstone won a Wimbledon line out deep in their own 22. Opportunities to relieve pressure with a judicious kick to touch were spurned, unfortunately, and with Wimbledon regaining the ball from a maul, replacement wing, Midol, was put over in the corner to kill Maidstone’s spirit at the death.
Team
John O’Brien (Rob Jeffrey 60 mins); Josh Pankhurst; Luke Debnam: Charlie Simpson; Steve Matthews: Lee Thomson; Nick Sargent (Ian Lee 46 mins); Matt Iles: Dave Tugwell; Mike Molloy: Neil Graves; Ben Cleary; Ian Overton; Mark Ryan: Craig Webb
