That Combe managed a try bonus point in the dying moments of the match put a modicum of balm on what was a painful loss. OAs were in dominant form running in 8 tries on the back of some slick penetrative back play coupled with a fair degree of forward dominance.

It was close at half-time after Combe had pulled back a 21-5 OAs lead. Henry Hodgson had opened the visitors’ account when he jinked through to score under the posts and Combe captain Cai Devine got one back finishing off Max Brown’s neat break. Two further tries from OAs; one from an interception and the second from hooker Tiane Elone finishing off a clinical line out drive. To add salt to the wound Elone is an ex-Combe Youth player now advancing through the England age grade ranks.

Two tries for the visitors in the opening exchanges of the second period all but finished the game off. Elone bagged his second of the afternoon and a neat score from a strong scrum close to the posts made it 19-38. Two further tries from a fractured line-out and a close-range scrum put the visitors out of sight at 19-55, and Combe were staring at a pointless outcome. But just as the match was drawing to a close Devine ran in his second to get that bonus point.

OA’s were just too clinical on the day, well deserving of the win and Westcombe Park have an awkward trip to Dorking next Saturday to get their season firing once more.