Combe faced a tough one this week at Thurrock. ‘Twas ever thus. All the old boys on the touchline would have told you so. But they came through it, and finished the stronger, and ahead. A bruising encounter with a final score of 23-10 to Combe. For the sixth week in a row the sun shone and it was dry. A good sized following crossed the river in support……….
You had to be there on time for the kick-off. Combe made a great start. In the opening minutes a penalty kick to the posts went wide, Combe’s fierce tackling forced another penalty as Thurrock spilled the ball, and with a couple of pick and drives Charlie Edwards was in space and delivered to Trent Nattrass up in support who went in by the posts for the first try of the day. The conversion attempt hit the post. Almost immediately from the re-start Combe offend and Thurrock full back Frankie Neale puts over the penalty for 5-3. Scrums and line-outs were not settled. Indeed Combe contrived to miss their first throw-ins, penalties and free kicks were conceded at scrum time. Thurrock had another pot at goal, but this one went wide. Twenty minutes gone, Combe win their scrum midfield, it seems like slow ball but there is a yawning gap opening up for Trent Nattrass to cruise to the posts again for his second try. Joe Simpson slots this conversion. 12-3. Combe look like they might take control of the game, but there are mistakes from both sides. Combe perhaps are forcing it with loose passing or knock-ons, Thurrock are spilling in the tackle. Certainly both defences are brutal and uncompromising.
The second half begins in similar fashion. Relief for Combe when Joe Simpson makes a break out of defence, and Ben Hough makes further ground with a penalty kick to touch. But all that is undone when from the Thurrock half centre Earl Gorman gives a pass to winger Sam Boshell who has a run in the tramline and is waved through by the Combe defenders to score in the corner. Full back Neale misses the conversion attempt but the score is now too close for comfort. The Thurrock defence has tightened up and Combe’s lead has been whittled away. Five minutes later it could have got worse. Thurrock attacked down the right. Combe had three men down and laid out, but what should have been a scoring pass went behind Boshell, and the chance was lost. This perhaps was the turning point. Combe upped the intensity, yet steadied and, showed a little more patience. Again fierce tackling forced Thurrock into errors, Dale Bellinger was making good in-roads upfield, and under pressure Thurrock conceded penalties, two of which Luke Giles gratefully put over. This gave Combe some breathing space with the game now in the last quarter. Into the final minutes Combe shove the Thurrock scrum back, Chris Lewis catches their No. 8 in possession, Luke Bellinger wins the ball which goes quickly left and Niki Davies is over in the corner to seal a well earned victory for the visitors. Right on full time it did not seem to matter the conversion was missed. The battering and bruising was over.

Westcombe Park XV : J. Simpson; G. Purdy, B. Hough, T. Child, N. Davies; T. Nattrass, C. Edwards; R. Conlon, G. Carson, D. Bellinger, T. Clarke, D. Watkins, C. Lewis, H. Barton, L. Bellinger.
Sub.s : J. Snape, N. Coles, L. Giles.

Next Saturday, 13th October, Combe are at home to Old Elthamians, kick-off 3.00pm. More importantly, the game is preceded by a Charity Rugby Match in memory of Combe player Jack ‘ Jacko’ Brennan : WPRFC Select XV v. Old Elthamians Select XV. All funds raised will go to support the Jack Brennan Trust ( a teenage cancer trust helping 13 to 20 year olds ). Kick-off is 1.00pm and admission is £5 on the day.

Match reporter : Bruce Mackenzie.