Combe Meet Their Nemesis—Again!

Last season Combe had won their first seven games and had 35 points. Hertford came to Goddington Dene and beat them by a point, and the season was never quite the same again. Combe went down by a point again on Saturday, watch this space to see if history repeats itself!

The match started at a cracking pace and for most of the first-half Combe were under the cosh and shedding penalties too frequently for comfort and failing to make much progress as a result. It took them the best part of half-an-hour to get into Hertford's 22 and in fact had only crossed their 10-metre line a couple of minutes earlier.

Hertford moved into a six-point lead with successful kicks from Richard Gregg in the 5th and 7th minutes and although both sides had further chances, twice as many to Hertford, one bouncing out from the inside of the post, that remained the score at the interval.

Both defences had been dominant, with Hertford able to release their backs better, so Combe found themselves deep in their own half most of the time.

Combe started the second half clearly upping their game and despite Hertford increasing their lead to 9 points after 3 minutes, it soon paid dividends. It started at 14 minutes with James Cameron slotting a penalty from an angle.

Five minutes later Sam Randle finished off a typical Combe move with the ball passing between hands down the right flank with characteristic pace to cross the line. James Cameron converted well.

Shortly after, James Cameron added a further penalty to give Combe a four point advantage, which in the context of this match where the defences were so dominant, was quite healthy.

It stayed that way for quite a time but with the final whistle looming disaster stuck! Combe had looked the most threatening for some time but with the ball lost forward in the tackle yet again and with a depleted scrum, Combe conceded ground with more penalties and found themselves defending on their 5-metre line.

Spurning the clear chances of a couple of penalties Hereford spun the ball wide and centre Jake Hobbs, who one of the more erudite supporters of Combe had identified midway through the first half, as being the thorn in Combe's side thrust the thorn deep, and hit the gap to cross for the try that won it for Hertford. Just as well for them, the conversion bounced off the crossbar!

Not a good day for Combe, the second XV went down also, by an undeserved, apparently, much larger margin.

Combe's Squad: Frankie Neale; Tommy Gray, Ant Hitchcock, Dave Bonner, Sam Randle; Matt Holmes, James Cameron; Nick Porter, Joe Bonner, Jordan Saunders; Dale Bellinger,Alex Weighton; Richard Adeniyi Jones, Lee Covington, Mark Davey. Reece Conlon, Tom Clarke, Logan Wendt.

Match Reporter: Mike Attewell (Guest Appearance)