Wimbledon probably should have emerged winners at London One South leaders Gravesend on Saturday, but finished off losing 20-15.

They looked likely to claim a second big scalp in a fortnight when they led 12-10 at half-time, but a well-organised home side came back strongly in the second half.

Despite having made the more creative breaks, inspired by number 10 Dave Rees and full-back Dave Charles, Wimbledon gave away possession at key moments.

It was an excellent performance from Wimbledon nonetheless; with a good number of long-term injured now back playing, the squad now has great strength in depth.

On Saturday the back row of Paul Shearer, Mal English and Llewellyn Walters (in no way weakened by the substitution of Steve May and Danie Craven) were everywhere, tackling everything that moved, and well aided by locks Ben Nightingale and Matt Lambert.

The front row of Ben Davies (who had a storming game, even combining with Rees to pull off a try saving tackle in the corner), plus Pete Wallace and Graeme Symon, refused to give an inch to Gravesend’s hefty props.

Throughout, Dons’ backs looked the more dangerous and tackled ferociously to a man – wings Ben Sykes (later Andy Reilly) and Jonny Rawlinson, centres Andy Barton and Mike Norton, and half backs rees and Alex Pyes all played their part.

Wimbledon’s Charles opened the scoring in inimitable style with a lovely try after 10 minutes, only for a turnover moments later to result in a good try for Gravesend’s wing, Bishop.

Entering the second quarter of this compelling game Charles made another break and Rees then sliced through the defence to score. Rawlinson’s two points put Dons 12-5 ahead, but just before half time a powerful Gravesend drive produced their second try.

In a see-saw second half it was over 20 minutes before either side could break the deadlock, when Gravesend once again made the most of turnover ball to give their wing Curley the room to score out wide.

Their fourth try followed minutes later in much the same way after a rare error by Charles had given Gravesend a 5m scrum, and their fullback Dorton made no mistake.

With ten minutes remaining a Reilly penalty took Dons back to within five points, but try as they did – flat out for the final period - they just could not break Gravesend’s defence. Wimbledon will now have to wait until next Saturday, away at Tunbridge Wells, to properly fulfill their scoring potential.