Park House IIs 26 - 59 Westcombe Park IIIs

Combe 3s mark Counties 5 return with a hot start at Park House
Combe 3s are back in Counties 5 and, on an afternoon better suited to a pub garden than 80 minutes of rugby, they marked their return with a convincing opening-day victory away at Park House Iis.

The new season also brings a new skipper, with Ben Harvey taking over the 3s captaincy, and it is fair to say he led from the front. Four tries, a Man of the Match performance, and a first win under his belt represents a reasonably productive first day in the new job. Congratulations, Ben.

Combe flew out of the traps. Jack Wilkinson, playing his final game before heading off to university, crossed twice early on to give the visitors the perfect start. Jacob Ingold converted the second and Jack was able to sign off his latest stint in senior rugby in typically energetic fashion. Good luck at uni, Jack. Try to attend the occasional lecture.

Harvey was next over, opening his account as skipper, before Lewis Gillam grabbed a memorable first senior try. Ingold converted both and Combe, despite the draining heat, were firmly in control.

Ollie Burge then added another before Harvey struck twice in quick succession as half-time approached, completing his hat-trick. Ingold converted all three and Combe headed for some much-needed shade with a 47-0 lead at the break.

If the first half belonged emphatically to Combe, Park House deserve plenty of credit for what followed.

The hosts emerged after the break a completely different proposition and crossed within a minute of the restart. It was such a rapid response that your correspondent missed the entire thing while gossiping on the touchline. Investigative journalism remains alive and well.

Jack Harvey responded with another Combe try to extend the lead, but Park House had found their rhythm. They crossed twice more as a combination of the heat, tired legs and a resurgent home side turned the second half into a far sterner examination.

Combe had to dig in, but there was still time for skipper Harvey to put the finishing touch on an excellent afternoon by crossing for his fourth try, with Ingold adding the conversion.

Park House fittingly had the final say, adding another try to cap a much-improved second-half display and bring an exhausting afternoon to a close at 26-59.
For Combe, it was very much a tale of two halves. The opening 40 minutes produced fast, clinical rugby and an impressive attacking display. The second was about rolling up the sleeves, managing increasingly tired bodies and seeing out a contest against a Park House side who refused to go quietly.

In those conditions, it was a thoroughly satisfying way to begin the Counties 5 campaign.

Unsurprisingly, Ben Harvey was named Combe Man of the Match after his four-try captain’s performance. At the other end of rugby’s prestigious awards spectrum, Jack Wilkinson collected Dick of the Day before heading off to university. A fitting farewell. We wish him every success and fully expect him to return with a degree, a questionable haircut and absolutely no improvement in his decision-making.

Next up
Combe 3s are back on the road on Saturday 3 October, away to Beccahamians IIs, with a 3pm kick-off. Come along and give us some support.
And, as ever, new players are always welcome. Whether you’re looking to get back into rugby, find a new club or simply fancy a run-around with a good bunch of lads, come down and join the 3s.

Training is every Wednesday from 7pm. For further details, contact Gareth Desborough (co-manager), Gareth Hall (co-manager), Shane Reid (head coach), or Andrew Mellish (general dogsbody).