After half a dozen false starts, the B team finally got its first competitive game of the season a week after the A's. Next year I will be assessing whether a team is likely to still be around to play us before arranging the fixtures; however we now should have a reasonably good run of games, weather permitting.

It was a crisp morning but gradually warming up as we turned up at the new Guildford clubhouse. Although still a bit raw now, with the benches still to be fitted in the changing rooms and the bar area not yet decorated, it was clear that this was a great improvement for Guildford and our congratulations to them. We hope that soon the Wimbledon changing facilities will be upgraded to a similar standard - our clubhouse I think is just as good.

The players took to the field with the coaches' words ringing in their ears - "DO NOT START SLOWLY". Their ears were clearly blocked with wax, because we had a shocking start; within 30 seconds of our kickoff the ball had been run right back through us for a try in the corner and we were 0-5 down. Having decided to do it the hard way, we worked our way back into the game. Sam Codling was playing well in an unfamiliar role at fly-half, and combined with Matt Shaw in a good interchange. Lucas Strauss was running some good lines and broke through the Guildford defence several times, while Connor Coleman was looking extremely mobile for a prop and made several penetrating runs. Sustained pressure was gaining us several penalties, but the first points came from a lineout won, this time and with increasing confidence over the course of the match, by Alex Browning. The ball was shipped out to the right and then quickly back to the left, where some quick thinking and a well-timed pass from James Jenkinson sent Diogo Carvalho over for our first score. This was converted by the captain Louis Hogan to take us into the lead, 7-5 to Wimbledon.

The scrums had been relatively even, but now Alfie Jervis, fitting back into his former role at scrum-half, was gaining in confidence and putting pressure on his opposite number. Having broken up a Guildford move, the ball came to Lucas, again running a good line; although the run was stopped Guildford had several players offside and were penalised. Louis stepped up to slot the kick and take us to 10-5 up. Almost from the kickoff the ball came to Sam Codling who sidestepped what seemed like the whole Guildford back line on his way to score under the posts. Coming up to half-time with a good lead, it was disappointing to see the same thing happen to us immediately from the kickoff, with several missed tackles to blame for a Guildford try run straight through our line. 17 -10 up at half time.

We started the second half with another try. Alex Browning caught the kickoff well, and took the ball into a ruck. It emerged and went to Sam who again ran through, past and around the whole Guildford back line to score under the posts. This one was not converted, but we had not finished putting points on the board. After some strong work from the forwards, with Diogo particularly prominent, it was the backs who combined for a try with Matt Shaw breaking through their midfield to release Elliot Phillips to score. Converted by Louis to take us to our high point of the game, 29 -10 up. Not a position from which a team should ever lose!

There were a few more attacking moves before what would turn out to be a last 20 minutes to forget. Connor again made some good runs, while new player Alex Paul took a great high ball from a Guildford penalty and in the forwards Ellis Morgan was solid and combative all day at hooker. Sam unfortunately went off with an injured leg at this point, and with the tide turning in Guildfords favour they went over to reduce our lead to 29-17. It was not long before they were back 15 yards from our line with a scrum, from which their No8 made a blind side run, we missed several tackles and were now looking at a lead reduced to 5 points. Relentless pressure from Guilford followed, and Wimbledon responded with some crunching tackles, particularly from Matt Rogers and Diogo Carvalho. The pressure was temporarily relieved when Matt R made a great interception in the middle of the pitch, but our counterattack broke down quickly and the ball was back in our half. With the clock ticking down, Guildford had a 5 yard scrum but this time their No8 was halted by a great tackle from Diogo. They came back again however, and exploited the tiring Wimbledon pack with a well-executed rolling maul which took them to our line and over. With the scores at 29-29, the Guildford kicker withstood the pressure to convert well with the last kick of the game and see us losing 31 - 29, having squandered a 19 point lead.

The after-game talk expressed the heartfelt disappointment of the coaches in having given up such a lead, and with the manner that Guildford scored their tries; all but one being very much attributable to missed tackles. This is an aspect of our game which we will be working on intensively in the coming few weeks. There were however many positives, with several players acquitting themselves well in unfamiliar positions, the team combining well when we did get the ball out, and some periods of dogged defence.

Our thanks to Guildford for the after-game hospitality, and to the Hogans for taking the shirts to wash this week. I think the availability of a set of identical shirts for us to wear for both A and B games this season is a positive change; but this does mean that the increased shirt-washing will need to be fairly shared out and I would expect most families to take a turn at some point this season.

At this point we are not planning on running a session on the 23rd, but I will confirm that later in the week. The Thursday session is also subject to confirmation as we are down a coach this week.