‘Chi’ had first use of the wind from the clubhouse end, and also had the sun on their backs, but it was a cold, chill day, and as the only home league game for Combe in January the crowd were looking forward to some good rugby between two well matched sides. They were though disappointed. Neither side really got going. It was stop – start with more stop than start. Play was mainly between the two twenty-twos. Defences dominated.

Combe had the first points on the board with a Joe Simpson penalty but it had taken fifteen minutes. An earlier shot had drifted wide. Combe were enjoying more of the ball but were being held, and could not spread it wide. Combe’s scrum looked strong. Indeed they pushed Chi back on their own ball only for scrum-half Edward Durkin to pick up and head straight for the line. Alex Marsh converted. Chi came close soon afterwards, driving from a line-out. But Combe ran out of defence with Matt Arvier. Ben Hennah put Bryan Young through a gap and he almost made the line. More pressure on Chi as Combe drove from a line-out. They at last breached the Chi defences. From a scrum in front of the posts Combe moved it left for Ben Hough to dot down. The conversion attempt hit the upright, but Combe had a narrow lead 8-7 with only a couple of minutes in the half remaining. Time enough for Alex Marsh to add a penalty to have the visitors ahead 8-10 at the turn round.

Come the re-start Chi immediately increased their lead with another Alex Marsh penalty. Five minutes later he added another, 8-16. Combe ran some changes. They camped for a while in Chi’s 22 but came away without adding to the score. Chi defended with a mix of desperation and determination, but it was effective. Time was running out. At least the crowd thought so, not realising there was a generous dollop of overtime accumulating. Into those last minutes, Chi moved it right and with Combe back-pedalling second row Rhys Gillings cantered in for an unconverted try that stretched the visitors lead to 8-21. Time had surely run out, but no. Ben Hough ran clear from his own half to be brought down inches short in the left corner. The back-up arrived and went for the line only to be held out. With one last play, Kieran Leeper chipped towards the posts, chased, and collected. With Iain Gordon converting a little more respectability could be added to the scoreboard, but with his kick came the very last whistle, and by then time really had run out.

Next week is a Kent Cup fixture when Combe play Maidstone. Combe then travel to Barnes and the league programme at Goddington Dene picks up again on 7th February when Gravesend visit.

Westcombe Park XV: K. Leeper; T. Nattrass, B. Hough, B. Hennah, B. Young; J. Simpson, B. Faurie; M. Poole, H. Barton, R. Conlon, J. Wright, L. Bellinger, R. Paddick, L. Covington, M. Arvier.
Subs: P. Briggs, C. Lewis, I. Gordon.

Match reporter: Bruce Mackenzie.