A high scoring match ended with Combe winning their seventh straight game. They plundered 9 tries while the Ath managed four of their own. With the visitors leading 10-38 at half-time and the bonus point try already secured, the game possibly looked over as a contest, but the Ath had other ideas and in a purple patch of 20 minutes plundered 19 points of their own securing a try bonus point try for themselves. That Combe were down to 14 men for part of this period and had had to re-jig their midfield takes none of the shine from the attacking intent and execution from the home team.

Try assist merchant Toby Wallace got things moving early with a juggle and pass to centre James Burton to open the scoring after 4 minutes for a try converted by Jacob Buckley. Bedford responded quickly with a penalty when Combe were spotted off-feet at the ruck in front of the posts. Combe’s slick off-loading skills were much in evidence and after a few thrusts in the Ath 22 lock Sam Fombo secured Combe’s second try. The visitors were dominating possession and territory and went further ahead when a nonchalant Raf Dutta strolled over exploiting the overlap that had been created by that off-loading game. 3-17 to Combe.

Bedford got one back on the 22-minute mark, winning a scrum and darting in on the narrow side for a converted try. 5 minutes later Westcombe Park showed a level of slickness in the backs which out manoeuvred the defence to claim the bonus point try when Kieran Thompson scored Combe’s fifth making it 10-24 with Buckley’s conversion. It only took a further 5 minutes for Thompson to get his second when Nick Cook put him in space after some good close quarter work by the pack. Then Cook finished the scoring for the first half when Burton pounced on some loose line out ball to make good yardage to set up a strong position close to the Bedford line which was duly exploited by the captain.

Then came that 20-minute period when the Ath scored their 3 tries, the first after couple of missed tackles, the second after several strong runs close to the Combe line and the third when a Combe move broke down on the left and the loose ball was scooped up and run in for the score. The visitors only points in this period came when Buckley slotted a penalty after Bedford came in at the side at a ruck. With 20 minutes to go the score was 29-41 and the momentum was with the home side.

It remained that way for 10 minutes until Combe increased the daylight between the sides with a try created by Dutta and Buckley and finished by flanker Harry Hudson. Bedford weren’t finished and a threatening run by centre Cassell was terminated with a crunch by Combe’s Fombo. The ball went loose, and Wallace was on hand to break speedily all the way to the Ath 22 where Joe Ratcliff was on hand to score Combe’s eighth of the match. The successful conversion made the score 29-55 and the scoring was completed when Bradley Bateup battered through a tiring defence for the final try which was converted. 29-62 at the final whistle.

Combe’s successful start continues but the challenges continue with next week’s visitors our old rivals from Shelford.

Photo: Duncan Woodhead