After a loss to Wimbledon in the first game of the New Year, Combe’s supporters were looking for a much improved performance against old rivals Dorking. The players did indeed deliver in a first period which saw the home side sitting pretty at halftime with a 29-7 lead and the try bonus point secured. However a strong second half effort from the visitors set Combe nerves jangling but a last effort from Dorking was turned over with a penalty to the Goddington Dene side.

Westcombe Park crossed the try-line three times in the first half. Hooker Taine Wagstaff finished off a line out drive for the first which stand-off Nathan Wyman converted. Wyman added a penalty before a 20 phase Westcombe Park attack was finished when Wyman passed to Toby Wallace for his first try. Wallace then scored the try of the match with an 80-metre sprint following a Dorking move which broke down in the Combe 22.

Dorking got on the scoreboard on the half hour mark when scrum half George Jackson exploited a defensive gap at the breakdown to touch down. The conversion was slotted by centre Henry Anscombe. But Combe maintained a comfortable gap when prop Todd Bailey crossed after a close quarter tussle on the Dorking line. Wyman converted to make it 29-7 to Combe.

Ten minutes into the second period the visitors launched their comeback with their own 80 metre strike down the left when centre Thomas Howe touched down. A penalty try followed when Combe’s scrum buckled under pressure. 29-19 to Combe. Westcombe Park then eased ahead on 70 minutes when centre Kyan Braithwaite made a strong drive through the Dorking defence and popped up the ball for Matt Harrison to score.

As the clock was running down Musa Adam got Dorking’s bonus point try with a long-distance strike. The successful conversion made it 36-26. From the restart winger Toby McRae scored Dorking’s fifth but a surprise result was thwarted when Wyman slotted a second penalty to make the final score 39-31.

Combe move into 9th in the league and head down to the coast this coming Saturday for the rescheduled fixture against Worthing.