It didn't start well for Combe when they knocked on from the kick-off and TJ's forwards were pushing Combe all over the park but Combe coped and worked the ball up field and were the first to cross the line but it was pulled back for an attacking scrum.

From then on the game was much more even but TJ's still had the speed and their first try came after sixteen minutes with a break down the right wing and the ball shipped inside to John McMahon. Dan Hawkes converted.

The rest of the first half was largely down to a share of penalties with three chances to Combe and two to TJ's. Combe missed their first, a rather ambitious effort, just seconds after the try. Their second came nearly fifteen minutes later, rather surprisingly, because the forwards were now more than holding their own in open play and beginning to dominate in set pieces taking three of TJ's line-outs.

Shortly after Luke Giles got Combe's first penalty reducing their arrears TJ's were awarded two in short order and Dan Hawkes competently extended the lead to 10 points. Another couple of minutes and Luke Giles, equally competently, made the score-line 13—6.

Both the spectators and Combe were settling for that as the score-line at the interval but a couple of sloppy efforts at tackles on the halfway line gave TJ's room to move the ball wide and Lee Campion had the speed to simply outrun the rest of Combe's defence.

The try wasn't converted but was to prove decisive and gave the 18—6 scoreline at the interval a slightly lopsided look that Combe didn't really deserve.

Soon after the restart Ryan Fuller benefited from some powerful running from halfway to the TJ's 22 metre line and finished off a try that wasn't converted but put Combe well in touch with TJ's efforts.

After about fifteen minutes of the half TJ's were successful with another penalty but while the new score was being put on the board Luke Giles nullified it with a similar score.

Combe were now so much the better team, with fierce tackling, and powerful ball carrying and threat out wide that it seemed only a matter of time before they would hit the front having negated much of TJ's strengths so during the next fifteen minutes the game became a little scrappy not helped by the inevitable mid-half break on such a hot day.

TJ's had another chance with a penalty but with that missed and Joe Simpson smoothly stroking Combe's chance from the 22 metre line and a whole ten minutes left on the clock it was only a matter of time—wasn't it?

Nothing's that simple in rugby as we all know and aided by a quick whistle from the referee TJ's held out to the end with some grinding rugby despite Combe's every effort.

What was disappointing for Combe and their supporters was that having arrested the initiative so early, after an indifferent start, they couldn't clear the final hurdle but overall it should give much comfort after the previous week's results and moods!

This week Westcombe Park entertain Bishop Stortford who have made a superb start to the season with 10 points from their two games so the match at Goddington Dene, Orpington should be a cracker.

Combe Team: Trent Nattrass; Ryan Fuller, Ben Hough, Tyron Child, Niki Davies; Luke Giles, Charlie Edwards; Reece Conlon, Josh Pankhurst, Dale Bellinger, Tom Clarke, Nick Coles, Geoff Marshall, Chris Lewis, Gus Barton.

Match Reporter: Mike Attewell