Match Report - Surrey 1 - Vandals v Old Wimbledonians

Vandals back on track after a bonus point win away to Old Wimbledonians

OLD WIMBLEDONIAN 10 WEYBRIDGE VANDALS 34

After their loss to Chipstead last week, Vandals made amends with this comprehensive victory, made sweeter by gaining bonus points. Wimbledonians were severely handicapped late in the first half when their influential fly half suffered a serious knee injury. The game had to be moved to an adjacent pitch while the injured player waited for an ambulance to take him to hospital, and for a while it was Vandals who seemed to be more affected by the mover conceding a penalty try. But strong up front, they very much ruled the second half and perhaps should have scored more than the two tries in this period.

Returning to the fray Flanker Jon Cottom made an immediate impression winning a penalty for Joe Spencer to convert, the first of several successful kicks. Wimbledonians enjoyed territorial advantage for the next fifteen minutes but all they could show for it was a penalty, and Vandals scum half Fraser Mills made them pay with a superb break, and with Joshua Carter up in support the No 8 went over for try which Spencer converted. Centre HARRY Reed then showed his elusive running skills setting up a try for winger Greg Lynch which, with the conversion, took Vandals score to 17 points. The old boys pressed hard to get back in the game and were awarded a penalty try after Vandals infringed twice in quick succession. After the injury and the game moving to a new pitch, Vandals had a great chance to score a third try but another penalty against them scuppered the opportunity.

Vandals rang the changes for the second half, notably Dan Wellden coming on as scrum half and he proceeded to carve gaping holes in the home side’s defence. After Joe Spencer had kicked a second penalty Dan Wellden took advantage of Carter’s pass from the scrum to race away for a try. Wimbledonians then lost a second player through injury playing the rest of the game with fourteen men. They did attempt to continue moving the ball wide but very rarely getting into Vandals had, and more than once getting turned over. Dan Wellden took the game out of Wimbledonians reach with his second try, and when prop forward wayne mason crashed over for what would have been a rare and well hailed score Vandals could well have got close to the fifty mark, but referee had spotted a forward pass, so Mason’s moment of glory will have to wait. Captain Adam Bullett continued to urge his players on, as did lock forward Simon Boffee, who was industrious throughout, but further tries were not forthcoming despite one golden opportunity in particular, being squandered.

Nevertheless this was a morale boosting win for Vandals and they can look forward confidently to their next league match on November 17th when they will be at home against Old Mid-Whitgiftians.

Written by John Farrow