After a delayed start at Sunbury on Thames due to heavy traffic, the WPRFC Academy started brightly against the Exiles Colts side. Half-backs Harry Buttery and Gavin Taylor threatened from the early exchanges, looking to challenge the home side’s midfield. The Exiles cause wasn’t helped when their no 10 limped off forcing them to reorganise drastically.

Combe opened their account with a typical dummy and direct sprint for the line from stand-off Taylor after the forwards supplied clean ball at a ruck. We narrowly failed to slot the conversion.

Irish then got on the scoreboard with a penalty after the visitors were offside at a ruck. The home forwards continued to force the issue at close quarters and in the set piece, but it was Combe who scored next with Harrison Nobbs providing clean ball at a line out for scrum-half Buttery to scamper over. The conversion attempt was missed.

The half closed with Combe 10-3 ahead but the question was whether the 7 point lead was enough given that Irish would be playing with the slope advantage.

That lead was narrowed when Combe once again were too eager at the breakdown and were penalised for off-side. London Irish took the 3 points on offer. Combe’s more focussed play in the loose was rewarded with a try from hooker Harry Fry who picked and drove from 10 metres out. Centre Ryan Hackett added the 2 points.

The next score had an element of luck combined with farce. A spiralling Irish penalty looked like it was going out, swerved in the wind and landed in the in goal area and, despite temporary winger David Vallely claiming the touchdown, the ball squirted out for Irish to be awarded the try which was converted. Back to the front row for DV.

Combe eased in front a bit more when the ball went down the line for winger Birch to run in from about 25 metres. The scoring had entered a tit for tat phase with the Irish no 8 picking and driving over for a converted try and then Combe coming back with Loughborough University bound winger Billy Liggins keeping up his scoring averages

Taylor scored with another trademark try converted by Hackett to underline Combe’s superiority.

Overall an excellent Combe performance with the forwards standing firm against a fiery Irish pack (you wouldn’t expect any the less) and the Buttery/Taylor hinge unveiling their full repertoire of jinks and tricks to outwit their opposite numbers.

Final score London Irish 18 - 36 WPRFC Academy

Well done to the U-18s taking part in their first competitive academy game and to coach Jeremy Nobbs for his 100% record (so far).

Thanks to Irish for all their hospitality and their fighting spirit. Good luck in the future.

Squad:
Lee Novell, Harry Fry, Dave Vallely, Reece Conlon.
Dave Shaw, Tim Day, Will Hall, Harrison Nobbs, James Hampton, Ben Ross. Josh Eastwood, Dale Bellinger, Cameron F-H, Gavin Taylor, Joe Birch, Ryan Hackett, Calvin Clarke, Billy Liggins, Harry Buttery,

WPRFC scorers

Tries: Taylor (2), Buttery, Birch, Fry, Liggins,
Conversions; Hackett (3)

John Vallely