The word attritional was on most supporters’ lips given the weather conditions that this game was played under. Despite that description, the home side still managed to secure all 5 points on offer scoring 4 tries as they continued this season’s impressive unbeaten run.
Combe were on the scoreboard early on with 5 minutes having been played. Prop Aaron Cooper fielded a Tring clearance kick around half-way and made a barnstorming run into the danger zone. The ball was re-cycled and No 8 Harry Hudson plunged over. Jacob Buckley kicked a fine conversion in the gusting wind. It took another 5 minutes for Westcombe Park to increase their lead. KK Orelaja, showing all the skills you want from a centre secured the turnover, was involved in the move twice more and fed Cooper who again made another deep inroad into the visitors’ defence, this time feeding his captain Hudson directly for his second score. 12-0 for Combe.

Tring scored next when Combe were pinged for not rolling away from the tackle zone and the penalty in front of the posts was duly kicked. Combe’s defence was being tested but with centre James Burton tackling robustly Tring were effectively being kept at arm’s length and there was no undue threat to the home tryline.

A slick line-out move brought the home side’s next score. Hooker Callum Harris combined neatly with lock Sam Fombo to put the latter clear on the left wing. Fombo still had plenty to do from around 30 metres out but with the drenched fans on the mound willing him on, he trundled over the line. Another fine conversion from Buckley made it 19-3 for Combe. A yellow card for the home team for a high tackle and three points from the ensuing penalty kept Tring within 2 scores at 19-6. The remaining 20 minutes of the first half was scoreless with both sides fighting it out in the mud, wind and rain mostly in the middle third of the pitch.

Combe were under the cosh for the first 20 minutes of the second period and went down to 14 players for the second time in the match. Tring were rewarded with a finely worked try right in front of the home side’s post with a flat pass and a good angle resulting in a try under the posts. Tring kept the pressure up for most of the period but the score remained 19-13 and that pressure deflated when Tring went down to 14 players themselves after an indiscretion in the Combe 22.

The match remained delicately balanced, and it was no surprise when Westcombe Park opted for a kick at goal on 73 minutes when the visitors were sanctioned for not rolling away at the ruck. Buckley calmly kicked the three points and Combe eased to an 8-point lead. The home side finally put the match to bed when, after sustained pressure in the visitors’ 22, Aaron Cooper finished off a number of pick and drives for the bonus point try near the posts. The Buckley conversion finished the scoring at 29-13 and another win for the Goddington Dene side was secured.

A tough old day at the office and again the Westcombe Park defence was the key in providing the platform for the victory coupled with a fair degree of patience when in the opposition danger zone. Next Saturday Combe are back over the river at Harpenden looking to extend their run.