Director of rugby Stefano D'Anna believes Wimbledon are turning a corner after a Matt Wilcox hat-trick took his side in to the third round of the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup at the weekend.

D'Anna's men have won just three of their nine London Division Two South games this season and Saturday's 33-17 victory over Letchworth Garden City ended a run of three straight defeats.

D'Anna has blamed the arrival of several new players - and a scarcity of resources in some positions - as key reasons for an indifferent start to the campaign.

But, with man-of-the-match South African Anton Kriel and 20-year-old fly-half Greg Cushing beginning to stamp their authority, he believes the benefits are now being seen on the pitch.

"The back-line has massively improved this season, along with better turnover ball and loose field play," he said.

"It was a good win. There were big improvements on recent performances and the new players are beginning to finish off attacks that would not have been scored from previously."

D'Anna was full of praise for his new centre pairing of Wilcox and stand-in skipper Dan South, whom he thinks can help Wimbledon play the kind of rugby that can attract players despite being in the shadow of illustrious neighbours Richmond, Sutton & Epsom and Barnes.

"It is hard to find players in certain positions, especially when we don't have the financial incentives to offer that higher placed clubs do," he added.