'Combe come up just short

After some good pre season games against Canterbury and Worthing the boys were all fired up for 1 st of our 2 annual battles with Barnes.
Both sides came out with all guns blazing but it was Barnes defence that was stronger in the first 10 minutes, just ask Will Ville!
From some basic errors and slack defence 'Combe found themselves 0-12 down, the young ref clearly learning his trade did well to keep up with the pace of the game but even the most experienced official would have had some difficulty with this encounter.
The boys lifted themselves and with great team play and some slick hands Joe Birch found himself with some space to attack, Birchy stood up his opposite man well and finished a well worked team try.Barnes answered with a well worked converted try of their own and seemed to be in the acendancy, the ref then decided Taff Williams need a rest, there was no other reason why he would have given him 10 minutes in the bin so innocuois was the offence. Combe down to 14 men with 10 minutes to play in the 1st period.
New boy Graeme Carson with ball in hand and 15 yards to go bounced off 4 of Barnes pack and the decided to carry another 2 over the line with him for a great individual try, Loyden converted to put 'Combe back in the game.
Barnes managed to sneak another converted try just before 1/2 time to put them very much back in control.

After a good team talk and some subs bought on Combe came out of the blocks hard and fast. An early try from Will Ville put Barnes under massive pressure, and with Dave Watkins constant chat and encouragement, the boys were looking good and were committed to the cause .
Up steps young Ben Hennah who had a mountain of work to do, beats 2 with his pace side steps another (gets that from his Dad) to score under the posts.
Barnes nick another converted try as our creaking defence lets us down once more but in a real end to end ding-dong, 'Combe have another go and Mark Baxter scores to bring the score within 2 points.
It's now 31-33 and we have all to play for and despite much endevour, neither side managed a further score as the official blows to end the game.

Final score WP 31 - Barnes 33

Despite the loss, there were many positives today against a very big and very good Barnes side, some great individual skills on show and some well worked team moves leading to scores. Defencive frailties have to be considered as a potential weakness and more work is required in this area if we are going to compete at the top end of the league this season, it will certainly be a topic for improvement during this week's trainig sessions.

Man of the match Joe Birch, a constant threat,a well destrved try and never stopped running and giving options in attacck and defense.