Into the second half of the season, and with the Christmas and New Year break looming Combe came away from their visit to the south coast empty handed. They were outscored by a fluent and confident Worthing side six tries to three, a result that saw the home team rise to second in the table, and Combe still rooted to the bottom.

It was a cold damp afternoon, with a keen wind blowing at an angle across the pitch from behind the burger bar. Combe faced into the low winter sunshine at the kick-off. A good sized crowd, some sated on their turkey lunch, the mini-bus load uploaded with beer, hardly had time to read the programme before the home side rattled in two early scores in the opening five minutes. Worthing No. 8 Jamie Redmayne went over from the front of a line-out for the first of his three tries in the game, and shortly after the Worthing backs kept the ball alive to put in winger Alex Nielsen in at the left. This second try was converted by full back Matt McLean to give the home side a 12-0 lead. Things looked ominous for the visitors, but on the quarter hour Luke Giles saw a gap, carved out an opening and delivered a scoring pass to Tom Hockedy, who still had work to do from the 22, before crossing in the left corner and then around to the posts. With Giles converting it was now 12-7 . And so it remained for another fifteen minutes or so. Worthing launched wave after wave, but were kept out by a keen Combe defence, albeit at the cost of penalties and one yellow card. With the one man advantage it was No.8 Redmayne again, with a pick up from the scrum crashing over by the posts for a try that went unconverted. 17-7. Undaunted, Combe pressed into the Worthing 22, Ben Hough chipped ahead, and it was Kieran Leeper who won the race to touch down. Try awarded after consultation with the touch judge. Giles added the extras for 17-12 , going into the end of the first half. But it was Worthing who had the last say with the last play: McLean slotting over a penalty for a 20-12 lead at the break. Combe were still in the game - just.

Combe began the second half at a gallop. James Lindfield found himself in space running half the length of the pitch before being halted just short in the right hand corner, Chris O’Neil found space with a quickly taken free kick. Combe’s reward after fifteen minutes was a penalty kick by Giles to close the gap to 20-15. Worthing’s response was immediate. From second phase a short ball inside to sub Kiba Richards saw him over for his first try of the day, but it went unconverted. 25-15. Combe replied with attacking runs from Leeper and Hockedy, but Worthing’s defence held firm. Nielsen made good ground into the Combe 22, and again it was Redmayne on hand receiving a short inside ball to go over for his third try, which McLean converted. 32-15. The form book was not going to be re-written. On the attack again McLean was stopped by Leeper. Ten minutes to go. O’Neil took another quick free kick, ran to half way, Hockedy was free down the touch line but into touch. Into the last five minutes, with another effort Combe put the ball through hands : Hockedy to Ryan Fuller to Leeper to Niki Davies who went over in the right corner. The conversion attempt drifted wide, still the score was more respectable at 32-20. Yet again Worthing had the last say. With the game now in extra time Combe were turned over in their 22, and Richards crossed for his second try converted by McLean to complete the scoring at 32-20.

There is now a two week break for Christmas and the New Year. Normal service resumes on 7th January, 2012 when Combe are home at Goddington Dene against Launceston, the Cornish ‘ All Blacks’, kick-off 2.00 pm. Or rather, it is hoped that the New Year brings an improvement to Combe’s fortunes.

Westcombe Park XV : Fuller; Leeper, Davies, Hough, Hockedy; Giles, O’Neil; McKinnell, Barton, Bellinger, Clarke, Wright, Lindfield, Blomfield, West.
Sub.s : Rainford, Fry, Deaville, Moore, Foster.

Match reporter : Bruce Mackenzie.