Wrong decisions, right result

Unfortunately I am currently out injured with a dodgy knee that creaks in the morning, groans in the afternoon and just plain gives up in the evening. The problems of age. 10 years ago I had the same injury after a game for Combe. That evening I could be found doing the Macarena on a beer and cigarette covered dance floor of the legendary discotheque Jazzmins. I digress. The fortunate side of being injured was that it gave me the chance to watch some of Combes young talent being bloodied in the threes vs Canterbury 3s.

Canterbury turned up with 14 men and proceeded to delay things whilst they waited for their 15th man to turn up. They eventually wandered up to the swamp where we are yet to be defeated this season. Unfortunately when the whistle blew, Canterbury shot off quicker than a boy scout in a brownie camp and we were 3 – 0 down against 14 men. Our typical slow start only lasted 10 minutes or so and eventually our superior pack and skilful back play told and we started to clock up some points. By halftime we had answered their 3 points with 25 or so of our own including a wonderful try that I have been instructed to write about. Our pack and back line put together numerous phases and got us to within 20 metres of the Canterbury line. The ball was delivered to Gilder by another great pass from Ben Faurie under pressure from their defence. Gilder looked up, squinted into the sun and asked for the guidance of the welsh greats Gareth Edwards, Mervyn Davies and Griff Rhys Jones. He then spotted Dave Stevens on the far touch line waving like he had just seen Brighty buy a round. Tom Gilders kick was as good as Daves catch and it resulted in an excellent try which they are both more than happy to talk about when asked.

Combe began the second half just as strongly and went on the attack from the start. I was once again reminded of a night in Jazzmins. I was watching Giles flirting with numerous attractive and Glamorous Bromley ladies, he was making them laugh and appeared to be handing out his phone number liberally. Thinking all was going well I turned back to my Smirnoff Ice. Later on I observed Giles skipping off to the kebab shop with a behemoth of a women who had hands like a 40 year old plumber and a club foot. I thought to myself “wrong decision Gilo”. All these years later I found myself in a similar position. A wonderful sweeping move saw the ball end up in the hands of Matt Jarvis, instead of his usual barreling run he stopped, lined up a drop goal and hacked the ball two foot of the gound and about 5 foot forward. Wrong decision Jarvis.

With ten minutes to play and Combe in full control Dom, playing his first game for Combe (formerly of TJ's) broke through numerous tackles and crossed the try line. What happened next can only be described in his own words. “I looked over to my right and saw Billy (Bignall, who had two tries to his name) His pleading face seemed to beg me for the ball so he could get his hat trick, so I passed it to him.” The referee duly blew his whistle and signaled for the forward pass, leaving the crowd to laugh, cry and scratch their heads in disbelief.

This seemed to provoke a mini Canterbury comeback, but it was all too late and the game ended in a satisfying 55 – 18 score. This result keeps us top of Invicta 2 with some tough games coming up. Needless to say, when the 18 – 20 years old's left Combe to go clubbing, I stayed at the clubhouse with the older gents of the 3rd XV, drinking Spitfire and generally behaving ourselves, the photos Graham has posted appear to be frauds.

Chris Fuller