Combe Overcome Tenacious Amersham & Chiltern

A scrappy start to the game gave way to an eight-try explosion that did a lot to lift the spirits of the sparse support with little else to lift the gloom in the bleak conditions.

An early, comfortable lead for Combe gave way to a fight back by Amersham and then Combe working hard to pull away for a sound win. The sharp wind and incessant drizzle did little to help two sides intent it seemed to entertain on an afternoon that could hardly have had less inducement.

For the best part of fifteen minutes this was as scrappy as it gets with neither side being able to exert any control but then, within the space of five minutes, Combe had opened a chasm that threatened to become a gulf.

Lee Covington, a lot of people's man of the match, was the first to break the mediocre deadlock and when Bryan Young crossed four minutes later and Paul Humphries converted the game had suddenly come alive to everyone's relief and Combe looked like they could become rampant.

Chilts made it clear that was not to be just four minutes later making it look easy following a penalty and line-out on Combe's 5-metre line with prop Joe Winpenny getting the plaudits.

It only took a bit of hard work for two minutes from the restart for Lee Covington to score his second try and in so doing made it look likely that Combe would just respond to anything the Chilts could throw at them.

It would be put to the test six minutes before the break when flanker George Bartlett went straight through Combe's defence close to the posts for a try which was surprisingly not converted so the sides went in at half-time with the score at 17—10.

Amersham & Chiltern made much the better start to the second period and Combe found themselves under constant pressure for all of two-minutes thirty seconds before No. 8 Andy Zair got the try and Joe Butler converted and the teams were level, Combe's control out the window, and it was all to play for with thirty-seven minutes to go!

Chilts continued to press getting perilously close to Combe's line on occasions for the best part of ten minutes before Combe were able to move the play slowly up the field into the wind and relieve their hard-pressed defence.

It took some ingenuity to get Combe away from their danger area and into Chilts. But once there it wasn't long before good combining between forwards and backs saw Bryan Young get his second try and Combe's bonus. Paul Humphries secured the conversion.

Ten or so minutes later Josh Penney made certain with another try and it proved to be the last score despite all of the fourth quarter left to play but Combe seemed to be content to keep Chilts away from their 22 and now had the control to make it happen.

The Amersham & Chiltern President said at lunch that he hoped we would be able to meet again next season. There was nothing in this game to suggest that we will not but without knowing their schedule I do know Combe will have a say in their fate.

There are just five games left now and three are against Chilts fellow strugglers, two at Combe and of course, Guernsey away. Combe's other two games are away to Bury St. Edmonds and home to London Irish Wild Geese, first and second in the League. So it seems nothing comes easy in this League but whether its relegation-haunted sides or promotion seekers its still going to be a long hard end to the season for the boys at Combe.

Director of Rugby Andy Foley said "Against committed opposition, I was very happy with how we controlled the majority of the game. The forwards went well in the set piece, with Matt Poole and Luke Bellinger also noticeable in the loose. Youngster Josh Penney acquitted himself well on his return to the first team set up, coming off the bench to score a nicely taken try. Bryan Young also showed what a fantastic attacking threat he is, before unfortunate leaving the field with a quad strain. Also on Saturday a very young 2nd team travelled to OE's for a top of the table clash. In a very close game, the committed 2's went down by the narrowest of margins. Harry Holland caught the eye, as did fellow youngster James Kenward featuring on the wing."

Combe's Squad: Kieron Leeper; Tom Gray, Trent Nattrass, Ben Hough, Bryan Young; Paul Humphries, Gideon Roux; Matt Poole, Hamish Barton, James Sheppard; Jon Wright, David Watkins; Luke Bellinger, Lee Covington, Matt Arvier. Reece Conlon, Chris Lewis, Josh Penney.

Match Reporter: Mike Attewell.