UPMINSTER 15, WYMONDHAM 13: Wymondham earned a valuable losing bonus point away at Upminster but will rue the missed penalty in the dying minutes that prevented them from taking four points following a spirited performance in Essex.
Wymondham were reduced to 14 when Barry O'Sullivan was sent to the sin bin, but with the pack in a dominant mood Upminster were unable to capitalise. Indeed it was Wymondham who took the lead when Pena Sokia – playing at No 8 – went over following a forward drive. Then Stephen Simms scored to leave Wymondham leading 10-3 at the break.
The big question was whether the lead was enough for a second half playing up the slope. Wymondham defended bravely. But the key moment came with five minutes to go when Mike Rout received a yellow card.
An earlier Simms penalty had kept Wymondham in the hunt but a second try for the U's while Rout was off gave the home side a two-point lead. From the restart Wymondham won a penalty right in front of the posts but someway out – and the kick went agonisingly wide.
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