Wimbledon produced a disappointing defeat to go down 34-12 at Chichester in London One South on Saturday.

They simply made too many mistakes and gave away too many penalties against a good team.

Dons responded well to an early try by Chichester hooker Rob Lawrence from a 5m lineout, with fine runs by number 10 Dave Rees then prop Pete Wallace ending just short of the try line.

Then a well-rehearsed lineout move from Dons, in which Ben Nightingale taps back to thrower, Graeme Symon, worked like a dream and it was 5-5.

Jonny Rawlinson’s conversion from the touchline gave them a two-point lead, but sloppy play by Dons entering the second quarter allowed centre Tom Polhill to regain it for the home team.

Their number 10 Richard Adams added the extra two points.

It was pretty even then until the final minutes of the half, when Chichester pressure presented Adams with an easy three points.

It didn’t help Wimbledon’s cause that the season’s most improved player, lock Matt Lambert left the field at half time with a suspected broken collar bone, but at just 15-7 down they still looked very much in contention.

Within five minutes of the re-start though, they conceded a converted try, created by Chichester’s increasing dominance at the lineout.

Then the penalty count started to rise and tempers flared a little as simple mistakes were made and Dons conceded two further converted tries before, in the final minute, they showed what they are capable of.

Alovely run by Rawlinson and an inside pass to flanker Jason Anquetil produced a fine try, which not only improved the scoreline but also brought a halt to the incessant irritating banter of the home team.

Wimbledon are much better than this and they will want to prove it in the last game of the season at home to Chobham in two weeks time.