Westcombe Park experienced their second defeat on the road as Canterbury stand-off Frank Reynolds plundered 29 points as well as pulling off a try saving tackle when the game was finely balanced. The result means that the home side move above Combe in National 2.

The visitors played with the slope in the first period and those in the know estimate that this is worth around 20 points. That Combe went in at the half 20-17 behind didn’t bode well for the visitors’ chances with the advantage now Canterbury’s.

The game had started with both sides testing each other out and it was Combe that notched the first score when full back Toby Wallace kicked a penalty when Canterbury were pinged for offside in front of the posts. The lead lasted only a few minutes as Combe were penalised themselves right in front and stand-off Frank Reynolds made no mistake scoring the first three points of his 29-point haul.

Westcombe Park went down to fourteen players after a series of infringements and the home team took full advantage, Tyler Oliver scoring from close quarters after a quick tap penalty. 5 minutes later the visitors went down to 13 players and again the city men made this count when Reynolds side-stepped the defence to stroll in. In between times the stand-off had prevented a certain try, tracking back to effect a fine tackle on Combe’s Mikel Davies.

At 17-3 Combe already had a bit of a mountain to climb but a turnover provided Wallace the opportunity to narrow the gap to 17-10. Another Combe offence gave Reynolds’ boot the chance to keep to the visitors at arms’ length but with the home team down to 14 players lock Sam Fombo finished off a strong line-out drive with a try converted by Wallace to make the half-time score 20-17.

And Canterbury took full advantage stretching out to a 39-17 lead Reynolds hitting 4 penalties and a conversion to punish an under-pressure Combe side. Canterbury also scored a peach of a try when centre Frank Morgan took advantage of a fractured visiting defence to run in under the posts. To Combe’s credit they continued chasing the score and Nick Cook succeeded in getting the try with a trademark score to make the result 39-22.

A well-managed and deserved victory for Canterbury who knew just how to use the slope and in Reynolds a player who produced the goods. Combe re-group for the visit of Dorking who provide a traditionally tough challenge.