Wimbledon sit rock bottom of National League Three with no points from three games, but head coach Nick Easter is not pressing the panic button.
Saturday’s 24-36 defeat to top of the table Tonbridge Juddian at Beverley Meads, having lead 24-8 at half-time, left Easter disappointed, but upbeat.
Rhys Morgan, Shawn Renwick and Jordan Davies got the tries, and skipper Neil Hallett kicked the extras.
Easter said: “I was not happy with the result, but we were playing the top of the table guys and were leading at half-time, and we have to be better at managing the game thereafter.
“I am very happy with the squad, we just need to work on that cohesion and the combinations in the game.
“We’re getting used to each other – we’ve had a different back line in all three games – and once it becomes more settled we will start getting the results.”
He added: “It will come. We’re not hitting the panic button, we’re not going to change things, we’re keeping the environment nice and positive, because that is what it’s all about - they are amateur at the end of the day.
“They are relishing playing against better opposition than last year, and they have earned the right to do that.”
Since Wimbledon won promotion from London Division One South last season, it has been a case of finding their feet in a brand new environment.
It also means coming to terms with opponents who are leaps and bounds ahead off the field, as well as on.
Easter said: “It is much tougher at this level because you’re fighting against teams who sometimes pay the whole squad.
“On Saturday we were up against a team that had eight or nine coaches, and they got the lap-top out after the game in the bar, and I was like ‘Hold on a second, this is fifth level rugby’ and the guys want to enjoy themselves.”
He added: “We might have a visual session once every six weeks, but these guys just want to get out and run around.
“They’ve been stuck in a suit all week with someone telling them what to do, maybe in front of a computer screen and they want to get out and play a sport they enjoy, and they obviously enjoy it because they are doing it out of choice.”
Wimbledon go to Guernsey this weekend.
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