Combe dig deep at Bury St Edmunds

...........under the floodlights at Bury St Edmunds. They came through 18-16 ahead in a game that was more full of mistakes and penalties than free flowing rugby, but that was principally because of the rain and wet almost throughout.

The hosts immediately started the scoring. From a scrum on Combe’s 10 m line, a chip to the left corner, collected by winger Casey Stone, try, conversion by Will Martin. 0-7 up already. Combe were in front of the kicker at the re-start. Scrum back. This is not a great opening for the visitors. But Combe settled and with some charges up field gained a penalty opportunity for Iain Gordon. 3-7. Ten minutes gone. But for both sides handling errors are thwarting attacks, and kicking from hand too often makes little ground. It is a wet ball, and a slippery surface, and neither side can enjoy quick ball from the breakdown. At the same time both defences are living on the edge. ( Or, translated, neither side is looking like scoring ). Bury have a penalty kick in front of the posts, put over by full back Will Martin to move ahead 3-10 on the half hour, and another effort shortly after but from further out to extend the lead to 3-13. Combe do not help themselves when a yellow card is awarded just before half time, but with no more scores they can retreat into the dry at the interval, and re-group.

The second half begins with more of the same. Combe are unable to make any headway, and Bury spill when they attack. Then Trent Nattrass has a good run, Combe have a penalty chance for Iain Gordon again, in front of the posts. 6-13. Combe begin to find more openings and inroads. Tim Kavanagh on a charge, Trent Nattrass once more, Ben Hough half through. A chip to the left corner gives Combe the lineout ten yards out. Tom Clarke gathers, the pack drives, meets little opposition and Tim Kavanagh grounds for a Combe try. The conversion attempt is pushed just wide, but into the last quarter Combe have got it back to 11-13. Bury gather the kick-off and head for the Combe line. The game is picking up pace. Bury penalty, outside the Combe 22. No problem for Will Martin 11-16. Fifteen minutes to go. Bury want more, but fierce defence by the visitors keeps them out. From a scrum outside their 22 Combe breakout through Tom Gray and Trent Nattrass who comes close. Combe re-cycle and go through the phases. Bury hold out but only by conceding a penalty close to their line. Hamish Barton taps and goes but is held out. Re-cycle, second bite. Hamish Barton again, is brought down but can stretch for a try under the posts. Iain Gordon adds the extras 18-16 to Combe with less than ten minutes to go. Bury are back on the attack, but spill again. Another effort sees them with a penalty award. It should be kickable for Will Martin, but he pushes it left of the posts. Time is running out. Combe are desperate to play away from their own line, out of their 22. The defence holds but in the last minute, it is another penalty for the home side. This chance is far out on the left by the 10m line, hit more in hope than expectation. It is short. Combe have clawed it back and held on for a precious win.

Next week is a week off, and then the team travels to meet ‘CS Rugby 1863’ . The next home game, at Goddington Dene, is on 30th November against Hertford.

Westcombe Park XV : T. Gray; B. Young, B. Hough, T. Nattrass, N. Davies; I. Gordon, B. Faurie; T. Kavanagh, R. Conlon, M. Poole, T. Clarke, D. Watkins, C. Lewis, H. Barton, J. Catlin.

Sub.s : G. Purdy, M. Nimmo, J. O’Hehir.

Match reporter : Bruce Mackenzie.