This away win made it five on the trot for the Goddington Dene side lifting them to fifth place in National One (East). It was built on a very physical Combe side which ultimately tamed Harlequins who gave as good as they got in the opening half hour. Quins also stuck manfully to their task despite shipping over the half century in points securing a bonus point with their fourth try with the final play of the game.

Quins opened the scoring after a dozen minutes having started strongly and putting Combe under a fair degree of pressure. That pressure resulted in illegality to stop a promising drive and the result was a penalty try for Quins and a yellow card for Combe. Combe quickly equalised through hooker Frank Kitchen at the back of the maul and Nathan Wyman added the conversion. Combe then took the lead when Tom Webster crashed through a couple of tackles to put prop Marc Muhlemann in for the try and Wyman’s successful kick made it 7-14.

Quins got one back with a mazy run from the home side’s half and the successful conversion brought them equal at 14-14. On the half hour came a third score of the match via a line-out. This time Ben Charnock benefitted from a shift drive to touch down for Combe’s third, the conversion giving the visitors a 21-14 advantage. Nick Cook then scored after a Charnock run and offload and the bonus point was secured before the half-time whistle with the score at 14-28

Four minutes into the second period Wyman kicked Combe further ahead with a penalty from in front of the posts but a great drive at speed from Harlequins shortly after made it 21-36. But Combe kept scoring and it was Charnock once more who proved impossible to stop scoring to extend the lead to 21-41. Westcombe Park then withstood a period of Quins pressure but held firm and then got a quick double scored by scrum half Mikel Davies, the second a cheeky snipe from the base of the scrum.

Westcombe Park now led 55-21 but it was Quins who had the last word and a try bonus point when, with he last play of the match, they took a quick tap penalty recycled the ball and scored wide on the right. The loud reaction from the Quins faithful showed just how important that might be for them at the end of the season.

Come are away to Henley this coming week-end for the re-arranged fixture.