Combe and Barnes : another close encounter

..... and for the visiting team to emerge the victors. This last league game of the season did not disappoint, nor buck the trend. Barnes, threatened with relegation could not rely on the result down the M3 going their way, so wanted a win. Combe wanted to finish the season in some style in front of the large well-fed turnout. Conditions were good. Plenty of grass underfoot, dry, but a wind blowing from the clubhouse end. Combe played with it in the first half.

Combe got the first points on the scoreboard inside three minutes with an Iain Gordon penalty, only for Barnes to hit straight back. Strong running brought them to the Combe posts, Combe conceded a penalty and expecting a shot at goal were caught napping as Barnes moved the ball out left for Luke Williams to dot down for a try converted by full back James Clark.( 3-7 ). Barnes looked sharp with the ball in hand but Combe were up to the challenge. An Iain Gordon chip to the right corner saw Combe attack in waves and with patience until the gap opened for Tom Gray to scamper through for a try by the posts. Iain Gordon added the extras. Then it was Michael Adeniya over in the corner after approach work by Trent Nattrass and Alex Smith. No conversion. On the half hour, the Barnes second row combined following up the break and escape by centre Fergus Jones. Jamie Collins receiving the scoring pass. Conversion by Clark, score now 15-14. With the half drawing to a close, and with it the advantage of the elements, ideally Combe would need more points at the turnaround. Although the Combe scrum was under some pressure, No. 8 Dylan Flashman was doing well to get the ball away, and with the wind too, Combe were able to set up position in the Barnes 22. The attacks were held out but at the cost of a penalty which Iain Gordon put over. It was another Iain Gordon kick for position that set up another Combe try in the corner, this time by Graham Purdy after Trent Nattrass had carved out the opening. A conversion by Iain Gordon gave Combe some kind of a cushion 25-14 ahead at half-time, but not an entirely comfortable one.

The wind in the second half dropped slightly, and now Combe would find it hard work to get out of their 22 as Barnes turned on the pressure. The rolling maul was working for the visitors. Combe were penalised for bringing down the first effort, and from a line-out Barnes went for another and made considerable ground for Richard Sharpe to claim the score. James Clark converted ( 25-21 ). Minutes later Barnes’ Grant Robertson was unstoppable on a diagonal run to the line. No conversion, but Barnes had inched ahead 25-26 with half an hour still to go, and Combe with little ball to play with. Barnes piled it on with yet another score when Daniel Wilde went over in the corner to finish a counter attack set up by full back Clark and out-half Charlie Wicks. (25-31). Time slipping away for Combe, Barnes almost with their mission accomplished. Combe were pegged back, as Barnes kicked into the Combe 22, but the back three fielded well and were keen to counter. Sam Davis was on a burst, Reece Conlon on a charge. Michael Adeniya had one run and then another in support of Trent Nattrass streaking clear. But the Barnes defence was holding firm. Just. Into the last minutes Combe moved the ball left, into the Barnes 22, a gap was opening up but Nikki Davies still had work to do, but he made it to the line and was over. ( 30-31 ). The home supporters cheers were soon silenced as Iain Gordon prepared his conversion attempt, ten yards in from touch, but into the wind. It looked good from take off but at the last moment it drifted wide in the fluking wind. A collective groan from Combe, a sigh of relief from Barnes which quickly turned into cheers as the final whistle blew. Another epic, and with Barnes quite safe from relegation both teams can look forward to more of the same next season.

Westcombe Park XV : A. Smith; T. Gray, T. Nattrass, N. Davies, M. Adeniya; I. Gordon, B. Faurie; T. Kavanagh, R. Conlon, J. Sheppard, J. Wright, D. Watkins, G. Purdy, R. Hackett, D. Flashman.
Sub.s : D. Weston, S. Davis, J. Penny.

Match reporter : Bruce Mackenzie.