Whatever was said in the changing rooms at half-time certainly had the desired effect on the Combe performance in the second period. What had been an end of season extravaganza with both sides swopping scores in basketball style tightened up considerably. The visitors used their heftier physical presence to dominate proceedings easing ahead to 50-33 with the final whistle in hearing distance before the home side brought a smile to their supporters with a try in the dying moments.

Bury had taken the lead with their first attack when Will Metcalfe dotted down wide on the right. Combe hit back quickly and eased to a 19-5 lead after 20 minutes scores coming from Toby Wallace, Kyan Braithwaite and the ever-willing Elliott Roofe with Wallace adding a couple of conversions. The home team got level with Samir Karbouch touching down followed by Alex Earnshaw, Callum Hall converting both scores. Bury edged ahead to 24-19 when James Harrison scored.

It was then the visitors turn to entertain the good -sized crowd and Kieran Thompson hit the first of his brace after good, structured play between forwards and backs. A close quarter try from Ben Cooper looked as if it would give Bury the half-time advantage, but Combe’s mercurial scrum half Mikel Davies shimmied through a gap to end a breathless half with the score at 33 points apiece.

In the main, the home side’s tries had come from distance with a set of pacey backs fully exploiting some great transition play. Combe’s job was to limit those opportunities and maintain physical pressure. Seventeen unanswered points were testament to the effectiveness of the tactics. Harry Hudson scored after 5 minutes at the back of a line-out drive to make it 33-38. Combe’s defence then held firm with some dominating hits combined with powerful scrummaging close to their own line.

Two tries in the last 10 minutes secured the game for Combe. A penetrating run from Wallace presented a second try for Davies. Thompson then got his second of the afternoon and Combe were home and dry. Bury then struck in the dying embers of the game with a long-range strike by Earnshaw for his second score to make it 38-50 at the whistle.

A wonderful way to end the season and Combe have the close season to gird their loins for the challenges of a third season at National 2. Have a great summer.