Combe were rocked by visitors Westcliff - making their first visit to Goddington Dene - losing 30-36 in a pulsating game, full of incident, but also littered with errors and penalty awards. Westcliff were off to a storming start, scoring three tries in the first half, and just hung on to the end with their noses in front. It may have been at some cost to themselves: they conceded a penalty try and won four yellow cards, but the reward was four points for the league table. Combe secured two bonus points but will ponder how they let this one go, especially after the form they had shown last week.
Another dry and bright day, with a soft top to the pitch after the rain earlier in the week. A gentle breeze from the clubhouse end, with which the visitors played in the first half. Indeed it seemed an age before Combe were playing in the Westcliff half, let alone with the ball, as Westcliff dominated the opening exchanges. A try for them in the first five minutes, Ben McKeith touching down by the posts and adding his own conversion. That was the start of a points spree for him as a couple of minutes later he put over the first of his five penalty kicks in the game. 0-10 to Westcliff. Ryan Fuller pegged one back for Combe with ten minutes gone after their first foray into the opposing half. Westcliff responded with another effort from McKeith. Combe fumbled under the high ball, and Ian Dartnell was in for a try on the left which McKeith duly converted. 3-20 ahead, and only twenty minutes gone. Then McKeith adds another penalty. Combe had to react to get back in the game. They pressed the Westcliff line, until there was a narrow opening for Ben Hough to squeeze over in the left corner. The conversion was wide. Combe’s revival was put on hold when Tyron Child was yellow carded. Westcliff centre Robert Smith sliced through to the posts for their third try, and McKeith inevitably converted. 8-30, with only a minute to go before the interval. Combe laid siege to the Westcliff try line, they won a series of penalties and scrums, Westcliff won two yellow cards and eventually conceded the penalty try. Ryan Fuller converted for 15-30 at half time. Perhaps with the breeze on their backs in the second half Combe could pull this one out of the fire………..
It started well enough. Combe attacked left then right, and it was Hough over again after five minutes. Five minutes later Josh Pankhurst picked up and dived over from short range for another try, after a break to the line by Trent Nattrass with good support. Ryan Fuller converted. 27-30 with almost thirty minutes still left. But that was time for McKeith to slot two more penalties for Westcliff. Combe could not get the hang of the breakdown. They gave away too many penalties, let alone kickable ones which were meat and drink for McKeith. Combe’s Ryan Fuller got one back but time was no longer on their side. Into the last minutes of the game it was the same story with Combe camped on the visitor’s line, a series of scrums and two yellow cards for the defenders, except on this occasion their line held firm and Combe could not improve on the final score of 30-36.
Combe’s head-scratchers and chin-strokers on the touch line had much to mull over. Westcliff on the other hand were rightly thrilled with their win.

Westcombe Park XV : G. Purdy; R. Fuller, B. Hough, T. Child, N. Davies; T. Nattrass, C. Edwards; G. Carson, J. Pankhurst, R. Conlon, D. Watkins, T. Clarke, H. Barton, C. Lewis, G. Marshall.
Subs. : N. Coles, J. Snape, J. Simpson.

Next Saturday Combe travel to Thurrock, who have made a reasonable start to their league campaign. The next home game for Combe is on 13th October against local rivals Old Elthamians, kick-off 3.00 pm.

Match reporter : Bruce Mackenzie.