Barnstaple too strong for Dons
Wimbledon 13
Barnstable 33
WIMBLEDON started life in the National Two South with harsh realities as they fell to a home defeat against Barnstaple.
The away side ran away easy winners after a bright Wimbledon start was curtailed by the nous and experience of the visitors.
After James Doe kicked the home team into a 3-0 lead, Wimbledon’s encouraging start did not last as Barnstaple emerged as the sharper side as the game developed.
The breakthrough arrived via Winston James, who bulldozed his way over the home line.
Barnstaple’s quality showed and their pressure told as Will Topps crossed for the away side’s second score.
Wimbledon then shot themselves in the foot when they lost the ball at their own lineout, allowing Gaz Evans to break away and offload to James to leave the score 19-10 at half-time.
Despite Doe kicking an early second-half penalty, Barnstaple continued from where they left off and never looked back in an assured display.
They cracked the Wimbledon defence again with intensive phases and Jordan Petherbridge twice breaking through missed tackles to score two tries and seal Barnstaple’s winning start to the season.
