Combe on the receiving end

Combe may have fancied returning with some league points from their visit to Taunton, who themselves have had a mixed bag of results in the first third of the season, but instead were on the receiving end as the home team ran in six tries, converted five of them, and had two penalties to boot as well. Combe mustered two tries from skipper Hamish Barton, and two conversions and three penalties from Luke Giles in reply. Final score 46-23.

Before kick-off there was a brief ceremony for remembrance and reflection, and a minute’s silence, as it was just a week since the tragedy on the nearby motorway. Kick-off was at three o’clock. The game would start in bright autumn sunshine, the going was a little soft on top, there was little wind. Combe soon moved the ball into the Taunton half. Luke Giles had a drop goal effort slice wide, but shortly after had a penalty shot in front of the posts, which he put over for the first points (0-3). This stung the home team into action. From a scrum outside the Combe 22, the Taunton scrum-half, Bartlett, picked up from the base and went on a cruising run to the line with barely a hand laid on him. Yapp added the extras. Taunton had a line out on the Combe line, they drove, and with a penalty advantage on offer re-cycled to centre Jason Luff to scamper over by the posts for his first. Again a conversion for Yapp. (14-3). Combe were trying to get into the game, but Taunton were beginning to turn the screw. Luff again broke clear to be stopped short of the line, and more desperate defence saw a penalty conceded by Combe, to be put over by Yapp. Twenty-five minutes gone, score 17-3. Giles got another penalty back for Combe on the half hour. Five minutes later Combe at last released Michael Adeniya on a run. He made it almost to the posts; still with quick ball and an overlap out right Hamish Barton went over and round for a well earned try. Giles converted. It seemed that Combe might be back in the game at 17-13, but right on half time Taunton scored once more with centre Luff burrowing over in the left hand corner, again with a penalty advantage being played. Try converted - half time score 22-13.

Although Combe started the second period much more brightly and with more purpose, they could only add a Giles penalty after five minutes, then promptly Yapp replied in kind with one for the hosts. Combe were running the ball when they could, but making little headway. Taunton were winning the battle of the breakdown. It was stalemate for a while, but Taunton were patient, and the momentum was with them. Within a five minute period the game was theirs, and irretrievably beyond Combe‘s reach or hopes. Taunton had a scrum within the Combe 22, and with a blindside move sweeping left, put winger Reuben Haile in for his first try, converted inevitably by Yapp (32-16). From the re-start Taunton latched onto the ball, and released Haile down the right wing, and over in the corner. Try converted by Yapp. (39-16). The time was now right for substitutions, for both sides. The floodlights were on, and a gloom descended. With two minutes to go there was yet time for Taunton to add further points as second row David Bates crossed, his try converted by Gary Kingdom. Into the final moments it was all Combe as Jon Wright charged through, made ground, Chris O’Neill made a burrowing run, the ball was quickly re-cycled, and from Giles, skipper Barton was on hand to dive over under the posts for a consolation score. Giles converted to bring some respectability to the final result - 46-23.

After last week’s game for Combe, the boot this time was on the other foot. There may been some changes with injuries and availabilities, but in all honesty they had met a better side, and this time were on the receiving end.

Next week Combe are at home to Old Albanians who are showing good form this season, so the challenge will be a tough one. Kick-off at Goddington Dene : 2.00 pm.

Combe XV : Fuller; Adeniya, Davies, O’Neill, Leeper; Giles, Edwards; Bellinger, Barton, Mitchell, Clarke, Wright, West, Walls, Blomfield.
Sub.s : Rainford, Deaville, Conlon, McDonough, Chatley.

Match Reporter- Bruce Mackenzie.