Combe lose their unbeaten status and also have to share top spot in the league. Hertford never gave up, Combe perhaps never really got going. Pulsating nonetheless.

Conditions were good again. Dry, little wind. A good crowd in, fortified by a pre-match lunch. The buzz around the club was ‘could Combe maintain their winning streak?’ From the start there was an early trade in penalties. Two for Combe’s Joe Simpson, and one for the Hertford winger James Russell. The visitors ventured into the Combe 22, spun it left then switched back to the right and No. 8 Dan Belton was over for his first contribution of the day. Try converted by Russell, 6-10 to Hertford with fifteen minutes gone. With Joe Simpson off it was Ben Hough who struck a penalty for Combe, and Ben Hough again who began the move that brought Combe’s first try. Another trademark Combe attack - pace and support. This time it was Kieran Leeper over and round towards the posts. The conversion attempt hit the upright. 14-10, but not for long. Trent Nattrass and James Niven combined down the right and with quick re-cycled ball and the visitors’ defence back-pedalling Casey Stone on a straight run burst through the yawning gap to the posts. Ben Hough could convert to take the lead to 21-10. But Hertford were not for giving up. Off the back of a scrum, Dan Belton, perhaps refreshed after his ten minute rest, was over again, and James Russell added the extras. 21-17 at half-time.
The second half started with a show of yellow cards. It was tense. With Hertford pressing the Combe line and a scrum beginning to get the upper hand, that man was over again for his hat-trick. The conversion was also over. 21-24. Half an hour to go. Combe were finding it difficult to secure good possession. Hertford were also crowding Combe’s backs and denying them time and space. Time was slipping away. Well into the last quarter, Combe set up in the right corner. Line-out, drive, scrum and drive, but nothing to show for their troubles. Only after a string of penalty awards did Combe turn it into points as scrum half Joe Wilkes took a quick tap and was over. The conversion attempt drifted wide. With Dan Belton off, Hertford still had a points-scorer on the pitch. Into the final minutes, it seemed like a long shot near the half way, but James Russell’s penalty was over and Hertford had snatched back the lead. 26-27. They were also strong enough to hold on until the final whistle.

Next week Combe travel to league newcomers Amersham and Chiltern, 2.30pm kick-off. Combe’s next home game is on 15th November when joint table-leaders Bury St. Edmunds visit. That will be a 2.00 pm kick-off.

Westcombe Park XV: C. Stone; K. Leeper, T. Nattrass, B. Hough, J. Niven; J. Simpson, J. Wilkes; D. Weston, H. Barton, J. Sheppard, K. Coulter, D. Flashman, R. Paddick, L. Covington, M. Arvier.
Subs. : T. Gray, M. Poole, J. Wright.

Match reporter - Bruce Mackenzie.