Depleted Combe were in the lead going into the last five minutes but resolute Launceston, the Cornish All Blacks held their nerve and at last translated their advantage and possession into a decisive and winning score 12-18. It was a tight game in windy but dry conditions: two tries apiece, with two penalty kicks making the difference for the visitors.
The wind was blowing at an angle across the pitch, and Combe kicked off into it. Within ten minutes two cards had been issued by the referee, both for foul play - yellow for Launceston, and red for Combe. Not a great start to the New Year, but it was Combe who opened the scoring. Man of the match Dale Bellinger made a break from a line out near half way, and with quick recycling , slick passing , and plenty of support No. 8 Jon West held onto the last pass to crash over out on the left. Luke Giles was close with the conversion attempt, but Combe were up 5-0, with one man short. Launceston were soon to respond but only with a penalty kick by full back Kieron Lewitt for 5-3. Their back three looked dangerous on the counter attack, but the visitors otherwise stuck to their plan of keeping the ball close to the pack. Combe were immediately back on the attack, begun by Kieran Leeper from half way, again through the outsides with Ben Hough the last to receive before burrowing over, out on the left. With Giles converting Combe now led 12-3 , with fifteen minutes to go before half time. They survived not just through sound and committed defence but also because the visitors were making mistakes. The penalty count on both sides was mounting. Launceston were mostly guilty of hanging on in the tackle. Combe’s sins were perhaps more varied and less obvious. Still with one man short, and having played into the wind in the first half, a 12-3 lead at half time was half the job well done.
At the turn round though it was Launceston who started with greater urgency, and they soon had the Combe pack and defence under pressure. Within two minutes of the re-start left winger Aron Struminski was denied close to the Combe line by great tackling, but over eager defence by Combe in the follow up play was punished with a yellow card and penalty, kicked by Lewitt, to take the visitors to 12-6. They now had a two man advantage, and five minutes later they managed to work in centre Lewis Patterson in the right corner and after some deliberation the try was awarded. The conversion attempt from the touchline failed. 12-11 to Combe and an eternity to go until full time. The penalty count against both sides rattled up further, but slowly Launceston’s advantage begun to tell. They pinched line outs, put the Combe scrum under pressure and began to find gaps in the Combe defences. Right winger Richard Bright came close, Lewitt was held up on the line, a knock-on in the centre with an overlap outside. Still the Combe defence held firm, but in attack they were no longer threatening, as possession was drying up, and any counter had to begin too far back. A narrow lead with fifteen, ten, five minutes to go. Launceston had a line out on the Combe 22, and drove for the line. Weight in numbers told and it was hooker James Salter who was taken over for the decisive score. Lewitt kicked the conversion, and now Launceston led for the first time 12-18. With only five minutes left Combe were unable to rally for one more raid. Indeed they ended under pressure in their own 22, as the game drifted towards the finish.
A losing bonus point was perhaps scant reward for all their efforts, but to have nothing at all to show would have been a travesty.

Combe XV : O’Neill; Leeper, Davies, Hough, Hockedy; Giles, Edwards; McKinnell, Fry, Bellinger, Wright, Coles, Barton, Blomfield, West.
Sub.s : Rainford, Marshall, Clarke, Fuller, Toms.

Next week Combe are away at Ding’s Crusaders in Bristol. The next home game at Goddington Dene is against Henley, Saturday 21st January, kick off 2.00 pm. This is preceded by a supporters’ lunch. Please see the Combe web site for details.

Match reporter : Bruce Mackenzie.