Westcombe Park retained their unbeaten record in a pulsating match during which the lead changed hands several times. It looked touch and go for Combe with just over 10 minutes left when Colchester scored on the left after a number of scrum put ins to make it 27-21 for the home team. But a try from Bradley Bateup after an astute through kick on 73 minutes followed up by a storming run from Raf Dutta brought the win and the try bonus point for the Goddington Dene side.

Combe started the game in Colchester territory and debutant prop Aaron Cooper finished off a line-out drive with a try which full-back Toby Wallace kicked. Westcombe Park then coughed up a couple of soft tries to give Colchester the lead. First a line-out throw was picked off and then barely a minute later a Combe pass was intercepted to allow No 8 Dylan Read to run in the try. Neither conversion was successful with the second being charged down by Jacob Buckley.

Combe’s lead was restored after getting the line-out throw in from a 50/22 kick. The pack rumbled forward, the ball was recycled, and Aidan Devan dotted down. With the conversion Westcombe Park led 14-10 at the interval.

Colchester regained the lead 12 minutes into the second half and, after a bit of Combe hestitancy, Colchester’s back rowers Whiteman and Read combined to score. The conversion was missed to make it a one-point game 15-14 to Colchester. That single point extended to eight only a couple of minutes later when Colchester attacked from deep to breach the Combe defence making it 22-14. The topsy- turvey nature of the game continued with Combe scoring next After several phases, flanker Michael Dunnett scored out left making it a one-point game again at 22-21.

Colchester were throwing everything at Combe, especially in the set piece and, after several scrums in the visitors’ 22, the home side were rewarded with their fifth try on the 67-minute mark. Then came those last two tries for Combe to seal that 11th victory out of 11.

Alongside the match at Tring earlier this season this was Combe’s toughest encounter which tested the squad’s resilience and fortitude. Consensus between both sets of supporters at the end was that this game was a great example of what Rugby’s all about even if it did no favours for the collective blood pressure.

Combe are on the road again this coming Saturday for the return fixture against Sudbury RFC.