Remember the first meeting this season at Combe, it was Hertford who brought an end to Combe’s winning start to the league campaign. Since then both sides have had a mixture of fortunes, and before kick-off were equal on points, mid-table, but still with ambitions to climb higher. There was then a tension throughout, and an occasional niggle. The conditions looked good. The pitch was a bit sticky, but there was a little sunshine, and the cold wind was more kind than keen.
Combe had first use of the elements, playing with the wind and down the slight slope. It was a nervous start for both sides. Hertford soon had a penalty and pushed to the left corner. Combe withheld the line-out drive and had the put-in, but it was Hertford’s flanker, Josh Corcoran, who pounced on the ball to claim the first score. The try was converted by James Russell. As they often do, Hertford had scored early, 7-0 up with just five minutes on the clock. Combe began to put some passages of play together, but were lucky to survive a scare when Hertford spilled the ball with the try-line at their mercy, (a sin they would later repeat). Combe put Hertford under pressure, but they closed down Trent Nattrass and Ben Hough trying to break through, and then on the counter Hertford worked themselves upfield, spun it right and released their other flanker Taylor Mosen for a try by the posts, converted by James Russell. 14-0. Thirty minutes gone. Combe’s re-start took play right into the left corner. Hertford were now on the back foot. A penalty to Combe for a high tackle was the start of a long series of penalty awards all within the home 22, close to the try-line. Your man on the touchline ran out of fingers counting, but eventually a penalty try was awarded on the stroke of half-time, and Iain Gordon added the conversion.
At the turn round Combe were quick into action, running up the right, pinching a line-out, spinning it left. A penalty shot to Combe was pulled left of the posts. But Bryan Young ran the drop-out back from his 22 to the Hertford 22. Again a string of penalty awards to Combe close to the try-line. Combe had the upper hand at scrum time. Hertford rode their luck, and survived. With the scoring chances gone, Combe would be hard pushed now to close the difference. Ben Hennah and Trent Nattrass tried to work their way up the left, Trent Nattrass then coming off his wing had an extended run up the right, but the home defence was not leaking. With ten minutes to go it was Hertford who were finishing the stronger. First full-back George Elliot on a straight run was through under the posts, and in the closing minutes, with a training ground move James Russell was also over under the posts, converting both tries himself. 28-7.
Next week Combe are at home as Amersham and Chiltern visit Goddington Dene for the first time. Check the web site for the kick-off time, it might still be 2.00 pm, but could be 3.00 pm.
Westcombe Park XV: I. Gordon; T. Nattrass, B. Hennah, B. Hough, B. Young; P. Humphries, G. Roux; R. Conlon, H. Barton, J. Sheppard, J. Wright, D. Watkins, L. Bellinger, R. Paddick, L. Covington.
Subs: P. Briggs, D. Bellinger, K. Leeper.
Match reporter - Bruce Mackenzie.