With a couple of minutes left on the clock it looked as if WPRFC would secure a narrow victory on the road. But a re-set scrum, a revamped Shelford front row and a penalty gave the home team the chance for victory. This was duly grasped and Shelford ran out winners 17-15.

No tries were scored in a tight first period but Shelford edged it with 2 successful penalties the first when Combe were pinged at a scrum midway in the Combe half and the second for an infringement at a Shelford line-out. Combe managed a Buckley penalty of their own when Shelford offended at the breakdown on the cusp of half-time. Shelford also went down to 14 players for a bit of frustration at the penalty concession.

Combe were first to score in the second period following an attacking line-out. The forwards rumbled a couple of times and wing Joe Ratcliff was on hand to get the first of his brace of tries. From in front of the posts Buckley slotted the conversion. Combe 10-6 to the good.

Shelford regained the lead on the 51st minute mark when their nippy center evaded 2 tackles to touch down in the corner. Ten minutes later the home team extended their lead to 14-10 when Combe offended in their 22 and the penalty was kicked. The lead changed hands once more a couple of minutes later. From the re-start Combe put pressure on the hosts and, from a charge down, Combe regathered and scored through Ratcliff in the corner.

The conversion was missed and, at 14-15 to the visitors, the question was could Combe sneak the win. That late, late penalty answered the query in favour of Shelford.

A losing bonus point was some consolation and Combe have a couple of weeks to re-set their challenge for the league until we meet Hertford at Goddington Dene on 11th February.