The match at Goddington Dene on Saturday in National League Three (Lon. & S.E.) was entertaining and exciting with six tries and a string of kicking for points. Just what was needed for spectators and supporters on a bitterly cold day.
Thurrock dominated the first fifteen minutes of each half to lead and draw level but then fell away to a fitter and more mobile squad that was Combe.
The visitors expended a huge amount of energy hammering away at Combe's solid defence and their full-back Frankie Neal, in netting the first thirteen points, was the only one to breach the defensive wall starting with a try, off the back of the scrum, and a magnificent conversion from out wide on the left flank.
Five minutes after the try Luke Giles closed the gap with a penalty and had the chance to bring it down to a single point a couple of minutes later but it was a lot later, as the half was coming to a close, following some dynamic work from the forwards that prop Reece Conlon put Combe in front for the first time with a try.
Luke Giles converted and then on the stroke of half-time widened the gap with another penalty for a lead of 13—7. Thurrock had a couple of chances to get back at Combe before the break with what looked like certain three pointers, given the quality of the first kick, and that had a number of the old farts mumbling into their beards, but surprisingly they missed.
As the second-half got under way Thurrock soon encamped in and around Combe's 22 and had a string of penalties to show for their efforts two of which were successful and as we entered the final quarter the tie was locked 13—13.
Time now for Combe's fifteen minutes of fame. Not penalties for them, but a string of tries; well three of them to be exact.
The first had an element of the bizarre about it. From a distance it looked just like a Thurrock player grounded on his back in the in-goal area gave a pop-up pass to an on-coming Ben Hough who gratefully fell over the line. I'm sure it couldn't have been that simple!
The second was much more orthodox and just five minutes later. A stunning move in the backs with swift, safe and accurate hands giving a drift defence no chance to keep up saw Niki Davies take the ball at pace to cruise over the line with the turning defence nowhere in sight. Luke Giles' conversion put Combe 12 points in front.
With five minutes left in the half Charlie Edwards mesmerised the Thurrock defence on the “blind” side waltzing round those who were even aware of his presence for the third try in the sequence. This time Joe Simpson converted wide on the right.
Content with their bonus try and now a 19-point lead Combe probably relaxed a little too much and Thurrock immediately struck through flanker Ben Timson. His try being the only points Thurrock gained without the aid of Frankie Neal.
From the restart Combe regained possession and quickly forced a penalty and the second-half finished like the first with a kick that sailed through the middle this time from the boot of Joe Simpson.
A comfortable win for Combe, on paper, but this game hung in the balance for a long time and says a lot about the confidence and ability of this Combe side against one of the grittier sides in this League. Two away games follow, neither of which should prove too difficult, before we meet Dorking and Guernsey again, at Home and then CS Rugby and Barnes closing out the season more than two months away.
Combe's Team: Toby May; Trent Nattrass, Ben Hough, Tyron Child, Niki Davies; Charlie Edwards, Luke Giles; Reece Conlon, Harry Fry, Nick Porter; Tom Clarke, Dave Watkins; Luke Bellinger, Hamish Barton, Gus Barton. Chris Lewis, Dale Bellinger, Joe Simpson.

Match Reporter: Mike Attewell.