By Stuart Montgomery

A last-gasp Joe McEvoy penalty gave Tunbridge Wells their second win of the Regional 1 South Central campaign - a 30-29 success over Wimbledon.

Wimbledon arrived at St Marks seeking a fourth straight victory, but fell behind when a drop out was taken back into the left corner and a quick recycle saw the ball through several pairs of hands before Mike Doherty touched down. McEvoy added the conversion.

The restart was kicked straight out and a good Wells scrum forced another penalty which was kicked to the 22. Ben Whale caught at the back of the lineout, Wimbledon took it down and were penalised. The lineout just five metres out was untidy, but retained, and after five phases Josh Curtis went over with McEvoy making it 14-0.

The next 15 minutes were a rearguard action for the hosts and after an overlap Wimbledon went over with the conversion reducing the lead to seven. Strong running in the centre led to a Wimbledon penalty just seven metres out, with Pedro Sousa receiving a yellow card. A tap penalty and some direct running gave a try from the Wimbledon No.7 just outside the right post for 14-14 at half-time.

A poor clearance kick gave the visitors another attacking opportunity and a quick pick-up due to pressure from the home scrum led to a try out on the right. Crucially for Tunbridge Wells, the conversion was missed.

Wells came back into the game once restored to 15 players and another penalty was tapped and well-worked by a long Ethan Thompson pass to Mike Doherty, who went over with McEvoy accurate from the tee for a two-point advantage.

That became a five-point lead with 10 minutes to go, McEvoy’s penalty making it 24-19, but back came Wimbledon and a penalty for earlier engagement in the scrum was tapped and kept alive before another try levelled the scores.

More drama followed, firstly McEvoy’s penalty making it 27-24 with six minutes remaining, before a Wimbledon touchdown in the corner looked to have secured another win for the visitors. There was still time, though for a home hero and Wells pressure was enough to force a scrum in the Wimbledon 22. Rock-solid and then starting to move forward, they forced the penalty just 10 metres out and McEvoy made no mistake.

Tunbridge Wells, in sixth, visit London Welsh on October 12.