Latest News From The Old Wimbledonians Rugby Club

Old Wimbledonians 18 pts v Old Walcountians 17 pts - Monday 5th May 2014

The Old Boys secured an exciting, but narrow victory over old rivals Old Walcountians on Monday in the Surrey Shield Final. Wimbledonians had the edge territorially and possession-wise in the first half and led by 8-0 from a superb Michael Ellis try and a Rory Southgate penalty. This superiority continued for the first quarter of the second period when their lead was extended by another excellent try from joint man-of -the -match Ellis, converted by the ebulliant Robbie Westacott, who had also given the scoring pop-pass to Ellis.

However , from this point on the Old Boys were under pressure forward and although Will Andrew and the Duggan brothers, Steve and Jack , fought like terriers to keep the opposition at bay, the Walcountians came more into the game and the action took place more behind the Wimbledonian 10 metre line. The opposition kicked a penalty and scored a converted try to come within a nervous five points of the Wimbledonian total. After half an hour some over excitement by a Walcountian player led him to step offside on one of the rare Old Wimbledonian incursions into their 22 metre area. Southgate again slotted a vital penalty to require the opposition to score twice to win the game. However, with only one minute of clock time remaining the Old Walcountians did score a second converted try to come within a point of the Wimbledonian score. Luckily, very little injury time was added and the Wimbledonians ran out winners.

Mention cannot be made of the whole team in these few words, but this was a magnificent effort by the forwards who gave the backs equal possession overall and the tackling was excellent. Other than their two scoring efforts Walcountians were unable to make forward mauling progress against the solid Wimbledonian defensive line. In this regard the other joint man-of-the-match was skipper Craig Starling, whose tackling and work on the ground was massive. The front row of Francis D'Souza, Mike Jones and Andrew mostly held their own and Josh Carter is proving himself an excellent player in the making.

This should not be thought of as the last game of the 2013/4 season but as the first game of the 2014/5 season! The Old Boys can build on this!

Old Tonbridgians 18 pts v Old Wimbledonians 1st XV 28 pts - Saturday 5th April 2014

This was possibly the Old Boys best performance of the season. Following four successive defeats the challenge of 2nd placed Tonbridgians was daunting. However, after some recent disappointments several players had their best games on the same day and the side frequently threatened to score points.

After a shaky first few minutes in which they conceded a penalty for a ruck offence, the OWs gradually advanced up field. From an initial dart by Paddy Donaghy the ball went left through several pairs of hands for Jamie Crone to burst through the Tonbridgian defence to score his seventh try of the season. Within another ten minutes a similar spectacular move from their own twenty-two metre line saw the ball interpassed via several players for Michael Ellis to plunge over for the visitor’s second try. These tries were each converted by James Hodgson who was looking dangerous each time he received the ball. Some of their worst bad habits crept back into the O W s play when under pressure near their line. Most of these occurred in ruck situations and a string of penalties was conceded. Fortunately the home team's kicker was inaccurate so that only two of the kicks went over and the Wimbledonian defence held firm when several tapped penalties were taken. Josh Carter was having an excellent game and made some saving tackles. The back row of Jack and Steve Duggan and skipper Craig Starling covered much ground in preventing several Tonbridgian scores. The score at the interval was 23pts to 13 pts in favour of the visitors.

The second period was more closely fought with just one try to each side ensuing. The Old Boys' try resulted from some mauling play close to the home team's line with Carter forcing his way over for his first try in Wimbledonian colours.

Old Wimbledonians 1st XV 21 pts v Battersea Ironsides 28 pts - Saturday 29th March 2014

Despite disappointingly losing this closely fought match the old boys put in one of their better performances for some weeks. Although being under pressure in the tight for much of the game the home forwards were still competing in the loose and making some important ground right until the end of the contest. In the absence of stand-off James Hodgson Tom Connolly stepped up to the plate as our newest No 10. It was a difficult occasion for him and he struggled to get the backline moving efficiently.

The visitors started the game more quickly and were seven points up in just four minutes with a strong forward rumble. However, forceful pressure from the O W back row of skipper Craig Starling and Steve and brother Jack Duggan committed the Battersea forwards to various penalty infringements. Thus, by the quarter hour the Wimbledonians had taken the lead with three long range penalties from Richard Travers. Play continued evenly with the lead changing twice more and leaving the home side 16 pts to 13 pts up at half-time.

The second period saw the fitter and well drilled Battersea team, who have greatly improved of late, take control of the match for long periods. They monopolised territory and forced the home side to feed off scraps of possession. However, there were several strong runs from Michael Ellis and Jamie Crone which were well held by the Ironsides defence. Sadly, pressure from the visitors led to a succession of careless errors and indiscipline in the rucks and mauls giving the opposition penalties which either nullified progress made or gave away match points. Four successful penalties to opponents is too much to give away in a match. That, in addition to a dicey slapped pass when in attack on the Battersea twenty-two which gave away a length of the pitch try made too big a margin for the home team to make up.

However, with five minutes left on the clock Steve Duggan forced his way over for an excellent try to add to the one scored by Ellis in the first half.

Old Tiffinians 35 pts v Old Wimbledonians 1st XV 20 pts - Saturday 15th March 2014

The Old Boys took a depleted 1st XV to league leaders Old Tiffinians on Saturday and gave a creditable account of themselves. Only eight regulars from the usual squad were available for this fixture re-arranged from February when the hosts ground was waterlogged. The forwards largely held their own except in the lineout where the home side were well organised and rehearsed. In the tight the forwards held on gamely, but provided slowish ball for scrum-half Richard Travers. However, in the loose and the mauls the O W s often excelled with Jack Duggan, Steve Cruden and skipper Craig Starling harassing the home team into many errors. In the backs Bud Manthe and Pienaar Welleman were forwards playing as centres which comprehensively tested their defensive alignments. They stuck to their task resolutely, but have not offered to play there again next week! James Hodgson and Travers excelled at half back both being dangerous in attack and kicking well for position.

In the first half only two tries, each dubious, were scored by the hosts, whilst the visitors replied with two Hodgson penalties. In the second period Tiffinians added three more converted tries to two from Hodgson and Rory Southgate with the stand-off adding the two conversions. The O W stuck to their task gamely and were still willing to attack at all costs until the end of the game. Paddy Donaghy on the left wing seems to have recovered his confidence and always looked dangerous in attack. Also read: 5 of the Worst Rugby Jerseys Ever

Subscriptions for the 2013/2014 season

Full playing member - £20 per month by standing order or £240 per season

Full playing member (full time student) - £25

Non-playing member - £50

All subscriptions are now due. Standing order mandates/cheques should be made payable to 'OLD WIMBLEDONIANS RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB' and sent to the Hon. Treasurer, Mike Curtis, 65 Chamberlain Way, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 2AT from whom a standing order mandate is available. Email Mike at