Of the games Combe have narrowly lost this season the one at Westcliff was the most frustrating. In this game they put the record straight and some with five tries to one underlining it in Spades. In addition, in the three games between the sides previously, Westcliff had the edge.

A stop/start beginning did not look promising so Ben Hennah's try in the sixth minute not only set the tone for Combe's performance but seemed to be right at the beginning and Paul Humphries conversion set Combe on the front foot from where they seldom retreated despite the valiant efforts of Westcliff who were desperate to get something out of this game in their fight to avoid relegation.

Combe's running rugby was a good tactic in itself in the dull weather and bitingly cold wind, the back division wouldn't want to stand around in such conditions, but Westcliff's defence and determination aspired to keep most of the first half down to three penalties.
The first and second to Westcliff with Chris Dudman getting the first. The second was an ambitious effort despite the following wind so Paul Humphries penalty restored the balance. It seemed there would be little time for much more in the half but Combe had other ideas with a good combination getting the position for Dale Bellinger to barrel over in typical fashion and Paul Humphries adding the conversion for Combe to lead by a creditable 17 points to 3 at the break. A lead Combe deserved but somehow seemed a trifle generous given Westcliff's efforts.

A mirror reflection of the first was the way the second half started with Ben Hennah's second try taking just two minutes longer, the only difference being Combe starting the half at pace. At 22—3 Westcliff's chances of getting anything out of this game looked very doubtful but a sustained effort ten minutes later gave them a try through substitute Billy Moran and this lifted them so that for another ten minutes they continually tested the Combe defence but it was very much up for it and Westcliff had to settle for the 8 points.
Perhaps it was the effort that they had put in but Westcliff's drift defence was not up to the stress the Combe back-row and three-quarters put them to in the last eight or so minutes.

A sweeping move across the pitch around the 22 was enough for Trent Nattrass, despite support, to go in diagonally away from the flailing defence near the left touch for Combe's bonus try. A few minutes later Omar Dixon's speed that had caused problems to Westcliff all game was the main feature in the fifth try.

Four tries in the second half and not one conversion and all from the three-quarters which says it all about the pace of this entertaining game.

The end of the season is coming at an alarming rate and now only three games remain, and only one of them at Goddington Dene! Next week's fixture against London Irish Wild Geese is eminently winnable if only the squad have the belief, the only element missing at Bury St Edmunds. After the break for Easter we entertain CS Rugby who will have to produce something of a miracle worthy of that Festival if they are to avoid the drop. Complacency is the only danger there. As for the away fixture in Guernsey we couldn't blame the squad if they got caught up in the beano planned by so many at the club! A fitting end to the season.

Combe's Squad: Tom Gray; Trent Nattrass, Ben Hennah, Ben Hough, Omar Dixon; Paul Humphries, Matt Holmes; Matt Poole, Hamish Barton, Reece Conlon; Richard Paddick, Dale Bellinger; Chris Lewis, Lee Covington, Matt Arvier. James Sheppard, Harold Holland, Josh Penney.

Match Reporter: Swan Song.