......running out worthy winners 24-0. Strong wind again, but this week accompanied by heavy rain. Combe played with the elements in the first half, and needed a good lead that could be defended going into the second period as the weather threatened to worsen. Score points, keep the opposition out.

It was the Islanders who showed their hand in the early exchanges: pick and drive taking them into the Combe half and 22. A wind assisted clearance however relieved the pressure and took play back to the Guernsey 22. Skipper Hamish Barton pinched the lineout, to Tom Clarke in space, spin and swivel, offload to Thibaud Calohard in support to plunge over for the first score in the left corner. With Iain Gordon converting Combe were 7-0 up within ten minutes. The visitors were kept in their own half but pieced together an attack only for right winger Bryan Young to intercept on the half way line and head for the posts. Iain Gordon added the conversion. 14-0, fifteen minutes gone. Guernsey were undaunted . Again they mounted attacks but Combe’s defence was sound, and more than once a relieving kick lifted the pressure. Guernsey made life difficult for themselves for example spilling the ball in attack in front of the Combe posts, and conceding a turnover after a lineout and drive towards the Combe line. A yellow card close to half time did not help their cause either. As the weather closed in it was still 14-0, which did not seem enough at the turn round, unless…..

As the teams emerged from their shelter for the second half the wind eased, the rain lifted, and the sun came out. Bryan Young fielded the kick-off in his own corner made ground, found support from Dylan Flashman and play was in the Guernsey 22. Bryan Young came close in the corner, but Combe had done enough to earn a kickable penalty in front of the posts. Iain Gordon obliged. 17-0. Guernsey were still in the game though. They could win scrum ball and also threaten in attack. But Combe stuck to their task and defended with a determination, forcing errors from the visitors. Combe too continued to try and find a way through. It’s not stalemate, but the scoreboard was not rolling. Going into the last quarter Niki Davies and Tom Gray combined to make ground up the left hand side. The attack broke down but Guernsey’s clearance kick rebounded for Ben Faurie, on debut, to collect and scamper down the tramlines for Combe’s third try. Again fortuitous but fair reward for Combe’s efforts. Ian Gordon slotted the kick for the extra points. 24-0. A second yellow card for the visitors would not help in any comeback for them. Besides Combe were collectively confident in defence and having worked hard to be ahead were determined to stay so and leave the visitors with nothing to show. As the DoR’s had said they would , Combe gave 100% from the first to the last minute. Good value and worthy winners.

Next Saturday the team heads northwards to Bury St Edmunds. It is not until 30th November that Combe are at home again, when Hertford visit. After Bury St Edmunds there is a week off, followed by a trip to ‘CS Rugby 1863‘. ( They are in Chiswick ).

Westcombe Park XV : T. Gray; N. Davies, T. Nattrass, G. Purdy, B. Young; I. Gordon, B. Faurie; T. Kavanagh, R. Conlon, M. Poole, T. Clarke, D. Flashman, C. Lewis, H. Barton, T. Calohard.
Sub.s : D. Watkins, J. O’Hehir, B. Hough.

Match reporter :Bruce Mackenzie.