If ever there was a game that demonstrated why you keep playing until the referee finally decides he’s had enough, this was it.
The Tigers somehow emerged with a 34–33 victory over Old Alleynians, after a match that contained seven lead changes, some excellent attacking rugby, crucial turnovers, interceptions, yellow cards, two injured ball retrievers and one of the more bizarre endings you are likely to see this season.
OA struck first after 11 minutes, crossing for the opening try and adding the conversion for a 0–7 lead.
They threatened again midway through the half, breaking the Combe line and getting to within two metres. With a try looking inevitable, Finn Curtis Cobb, making his senior debut, produced a superb turnover to rescue the situation. Combe immediately broke upfield from the resulting possession, with Smith eventually being fouled as the Tigers began to find some momentum.
That pressure finally told after 33 minutes when Brelsford crossed, the conversion levelling things at 7–7.
Parity lasted all of three minutes.
OA hit straight back with their second try to regain the lead at 7–14.
Just before the break, Dan made a terrific run and combined well with Syers. With Combe threatening, OA illegally killed the ball and were shown yellow.
Half-time: Tigers 7–14 Old Alleynians.
The interval produced arguably the most brutal contest of the afternoon.
Stand-in manager Smith and the erstwhile match reporter ventured into the brambles in search of lost balls. Both eventually emerged looking as though they had been involved in a knife fight and required treatment from the physio.
Half-time score: Brambles 2 – Ball Retrievers 0.
Fortunately, the actual rugby restarted before either needed to be HIA’d.
Combe came flying out of the blocks. Just a minute into the second half, Wilkinson hit a superb line and finished in the corner. The difficult conversion was missed, but at 12–14 the Tigers were right back in it.
Two minutes later Finn was at it again, producing another excellent turnover to win Combe a penalty.
OA weathered the storm, however, and on 53 minutes a well-worked backs move produced their third try and stretched their advantage to 12–19.
Then came arguably Combe’s best rugby of the afternoon.
On 56 minutes, the backs put together a superb flowing move. Smith scissored with Hamilton, Hamilton popped the ball to Flynn and Flynn finished an excellent team try. The conversion was good and suddenly it was all square at 19–19.
The Tigers now had their tails up.
Six minutes later, some powerful running and good continuity created space for Sydorowitz, on debut for Combe, to score in the corner. The conversion drifted wide, but for the first time Combe were ahead: 24–19.
Then, on 70 minutes, Flynn intercepted in midfield. Rather than trying to do everything himself, he found Syers, who raced away to score. Clayton nailed an excellent conversion and, at 31–19, Combe appeared to have finally broken OA’s resistance.
Appearances can be deceptive.
Just two minutes later OA scored in the corner and converted. 31–26.
Then, with two minutes remaining, disaster.
Combe were attacking when OA intercepted inside their own half. The OA player had open grass in front of him and galloped all the way under the posts. The simple conversion put the visitors ahead 31–33.
After leading by 12 with ten minutes remaining, Combe appeared to have thrown it away.
And then came the 80th minute.
The referee awarded Combe a penalty for reasons that were not entirely obvious to anyone watching.
But there was still another twist.
The referee called “last play” and OA, understandably, attempted to kick the ball into touch and end the game.
They sliced it.
Hamilton challenged for the ball in the air but couldn’t gather cleanly. At which point, rather than simply getting on with things, OA decided it would be a good time to have a lengthy discussion with the referee.
It wasn’t.
After considering matters, the referee awarded another penalty to the Tigers.
Up stepped Clayton.
One kick to win it.
Over it went.
Tigers 34 – Old Alleynians 33.
Cue bedlam.
There will undoubtedly be plenty for the Tigers to analyse. Having built a 31–19 lead with ten minutes remaining, allowing OA to score twice and take the lead was certainly not part of the plan.
But there was also plenty to admire. Combe played some excellent attacking rugby, Finn produced crucial turnovers, the backs looked dangerous when given quick ball and, most importantly, the Tigers kept playing until the very last whistle.
Sometimes you win comfortably.
Sometimes you grind it out.
And sometimes the opposition slice the ball back onto the pitch on the last play, argue with the referee and give your kicker the chance to win the game.
We’ll take all three.
Full-time: Tigers 34 – Old Alleynians 33.
Brambles 2 – Ball Retrievers 0