Combe produced a near perfect performance of rugby against National League Three (London & S.E.) struggler's Tring from Heref . . . oops! Hertfordshire at Goddington Dene, Orpington on Saturday. They showed tremendous patience and arrived at half-time 10—nil up almost as a matter of course and went on to run riot in the last twenty minutes. This was a great relief to the supporters (and probably players and coaches alike) who have waited a long time to see Combe at their best at home.

The game had started even enough with both sides offering hope to their supporters and only an early penalty attempt from Combe to show for their efforts, but it was the 25th minute before they got on the board with a Toby May try from a fluid period of Combe pressure and a good conversion from Ryan Fuller.

Near the end of the half Ryan Fuller slotted a penalty and the lead at the interval seemed comfortable given the general mood of the half which had not produced much to right home about from either side, and was business-like rather than exciting.

The second-half had only been under way a few minutes before full-back Toby May went in for his second try, the conversion was missed and even when full-back Tom Newton slotted a penalty with an impressive kick for Tring the level of excitement was not raised to any significant degree.

All that was to change dramatically in the last quarter. It all started quietly enough, a rolling maul close to Tring's 10-metre line trundled close to the 22 broke down and a series of pick and drives in the end saw No. 8 Geoff Marshall getting the touchdown.

Soon after, following some pretty cavalier rugby, with Combe tossing the ball about, Luke Giles made a decisive break and went over near the posts for Combe's bonus try, and Ryan Fuller's conversion was a formality.

Any shackles, real or perceived, were now cast aside and Combe continued to play with great enthusiasm, none more so than Trent Nattrass so it was he who charged down an attempt to relieve the pressure close to the posts but the ball was chased down in the in-goal area close to the side line. Ryan Fuller's kick from wide was quite the best of the day.

A few minutes later and just a couple of minutes from the end a classic three-quarter move, full of fast running and fine handling, saw Ben Hough drawing the remaining defence before shipping a perfect pass to Ryan Fuller who streaked to the line. As he had closed only a little to the posts the conversion kick was only a shade less impressive than the last—but it did seal an impressive win.

Combe have played 120 minutes of rugby shipping just two penalties in that time which says wonders for their discipline and defence when you consider, that it was not long ago, when shipping penalties was a real problem that was costing them dearly so all credit to the coaching methods and the self discipline of the players.

TEAM: Toby May; Graham Purdy, Ben Hough, Tyron Child, Ryan Fuller; Charlie Edwards, Trent Nattrass; Reece Conlon, Graham Carson, Dale Bellinger; Tom Clark, Nick Coles; Luke Bellinger, Hamish Barton, Geoff Mitchell. James Snape, Chris Lewis, Luke Giles.

Match Reporter: Mike Attewell.