Combe stumble at Southend

Combe came up short against a Southend side who themselves were not firing on all cylinders, yet had the poise ultimately to take their scoring opportunities and come away with all the points. Every visit to Southend presents a stiff challenge, and this occasion was no different. Southend who had stumbled in their last two outings were anxious to get back to winning ways, and Combe are still looking to turn their season around. The setting was a bit damp and gloomy, but then it is mid-November.

Southend got off to a quick start with wave after wave of attacks, having pinched the knock-back by Combe at the kick-off. For ten minutes Combe weathered the storm but then Mike Stanley the Southend out-half straightened up and went in to the right of the posts for the first score. The conversion, by Andrew Frost went over for a 7-0 lead. Combe hit back immediately. From the re-start the front row took it on, and after some recycling and inter-passing Dean Sole was on hand to burst over. The conversion was wide. 7-5.Combe were playing with some spirit and enterprise, the front row was getting the upper hand, Southend were getting scragged at the base of the scrum, their line out was not working smoothly, and the backs were making handling errors. But Combe were unable to exploit their advantage. Southend had their chance and took it. From a scrum close to the Combe line the No. 8 picked up, and from the second phase scrum half Sam Arnot went over, as did the conversion, although not quite as convincingly. 14-5, and just before half time.

The second half opened with Combe making some ground and the scrum back in business, but a penalty for Southend took them close to the Combe line for a line out and from the resultant rolling maul tight head Luke Irvine dived in for the try. The conversion was over. With the score now 21-5, the game was drifting away for Combe, and Southend were gaining some control. Gaps in Combe’s defence were opening up. The Southend flanker burst through but was brought down by Neil Brown. Later at the other end he was almost in for a score himself, as was Tom Hockedy. Graham Purdy was brought down after a chip ahead but the penalty advantage was missed as the line-out went wrong and Southend were up at the Combe end instead. Centre Chris Vaughan was in for a converted try, 28-5. There was time left for a penalty kick for Southend ( 31-5 ), and the final converted try for the home side for Stanley who went clean through ( 38-5 ). Combe finished with a bit of a flourish but could not add to their points.

Next week Combe visit high flying Jersey, and form suggests this will be a particularly stern test. The travelling support will also be up for the challenge.

Combe XV : Brown; Leeper, Purdy, Spelman, Hockedy; Giles, Stevenson; Denton, Brooks, Mitchell, Alexander, Wright, Sole, Winslade, Bradford.
Subs, all used : Street, C., Watkins, McKinnell, Barton, Adeniya.

Match reporter : Bruce Mackenzie.