If anything showed Westcombe Park’s more calculating nous in their second season at this level, it was the 18 phases of ball retention which trundled Combe up field from their own 22 into the opponents’ danger zone in the closing minutes of this tight match. That the play ended in a penalty against Combe was of no import as the match was entering its final play and Combe turned the ball over at the next maul to end as 19-15 victors.

Westcombe Park started the game at a ferocious pace and penetrated deep into Tring territory from the outset. Two minutes in, there was a battle for possession on the Tring line and lock Sam Fombo turned the ball over to score the try. The conversion was missed. The visitors maintained their aggressive start and 6 minutes later inside centre KK Orelaja scored Combe’s second after a Nick Cook trademark break and an offload to the supporting Orelaja. This time Jacob Buckley’s kick was successful and Combe led 12-0.

Tring were next to score. A successful line-out drive gained a tranche of territory and, when the initial move faltered, Tring won clean ball at the ensuing scrum to score close to the posts for a converted try narrowing the gap to 7-12. Westcombe Park thought they had scored on the 20th minute, but the referee had spotted a forward pass. With the wind and slope in their favour the visitors continued to dominate territory and possession but could not convert this to points through a combination of Tring’s stout defending and a lack of sharp execution on the part of the visitors.
Tring came more into the match in the second period but the same combination of defence and lack of accuracy in the danger zone meant that there was no score until the 70th minute. Combe were down to 14 players after a series of infringements that resulted in a yellow card. Tring elected to scrum one of these penalties and bundled the ball over from close range for a try which, with the conversion being missed, brought the scores level at 15 apiece.

Tring then edged forward for the first time in the game. A penalty for off-side offered an easyish kick which was duly slotted to make it 15-12. But Combe had the last word with a storming attack from deep in their own half. Full-back Toby Wallace had spotted an isolated pair of Tring front rowers out wide. His astute run split them and winger Joe Ratcliff was on hand to score Combe’s third and winning try which was converted by Buckley. And then came that match closing out tactic from the Munster playbook.

So, a close-run thing to echo Wellington’s words after Waterloo. Combe have next weekend off to regroup and set themselves up for the home game against Harpenden. And finally, the buzz in the Combe clubhouse on Saturday evening was that all 3 adult sides remained unbeaten so far this season. A huge well done to all involved.