Watching Wimbledon this season has not been for faint of heart and so the trend continued on Saturday at Bracknell RFC. Playing in the first half with the significant slope Wimbledon got on the front foot early with a Charlie Maskray penalty. This was followed by an excellent try from lock Ed Ashcroft who bulldozed his way over the line. Another Ashcroft break allowed centre Paul Hendry to go over out wide before Bracknell scored a breakaway try to bring the score to 5-15. Multiple phase pressure led to a five metre lineout from which Wimbledon’s Tom Williams scored. With the half almost up Wimbledon gave possession away and ended up conceding a maul try leaving a half time score of 10-20.

The second half saw a huge shift in momentum. Bracknell kicked very well and pinned Wimbledon back in their own 22m area. A penalty in front of the posts and then a try after an unnecessary 50-22 brought the scores level. The noise from the large home crowd drove the hosts on and a series of missed tackles saw the Bracknell forwards drive over to score and take a 27-20 lead for the first time. A further home team score was only prevented by an outstanding turnover by Abu Abdul ten metres form the Wimbledon tryline. Finally Wimbledon got into the Bracknell half and with Brosch and Ridler always looking dangerous a series of phases saw Williams go over for his second try. Backup kicker Tim Ridler converted superbly from the touchline to see the scoreboard register 27-27. Multiphase attacking rugby once again saw Wimbledon on the attack with Williams dotting down for his hat trick. The home team did not lie down. A missed kick off reception gave Bracknell field position from which firstly Wimbledon’s Bracegirdle was yellow carded and then Bracknell scored out wide to bring the score to 34-34 with six minutes to play. JJ Kinnear, on as replacement hooker chased the kick off hard and forced a knock on by the home team. A penalised Wimbledon lineout was cleared way downfield which then began the final attack of the game. Wimbledon showed huge patience and no little skill in keeping the ball through more than twenty phase to eventually see Oscar Norman go over in the corner, Ridler convert from out wide and the ref to blow up for full time! The silence of the home crowd was deafening.

Steve Hill Wimbledon Director of Rugby commented; ‘I am incredibly impressed by how we came back to win that game. We scored some terrific tries in the first half but through errors allowed Bracknell to totally dominate the first twenty minutes of the second half and take the lead. However to then up the slope and into the breeze be able to gain field position and territory shows how much we have improved this season. I thought JJ Kinnear off the bench and on his debut was excellent and this was truly a squad effort. To have the energy and skill level to keep the ball for over twenty phases at the end of an incredibly tiring game was impressive and five points away from home is a terrific outcome.’