Combe lead at half time 6-3, with two penalty goals by Mat Spelman. It was a closely fought game that turned the form book on its head. High-flying Jersey were harried and hustled into mistakes, they were fumbling the ball and were giving penalties away. Combe, at the other end of the table were 6-0 up within ten minutes, defending well as usual, and confident to attack and counter attack.

The second half began with a second penalty kick for Jersey, and pressure on the Combe line. Over eager defence brought a yellow card and from the ensuing scrum Jersey took advantage of their numbers and scored the first try of the game from a No. 8 pick up. And while Jersey still had extra numbers centre Donovan Saunders wrestled through towards the line and popped up a pass to Toby Clyde-Smith to score by the posts, and then prop Dai Maddocks was driven over for the third try. All within ten minutes. This was probably the decisive score of the game for at 23-6 Combe were going to find it hard to bounce back, as despite all their endeavours they were unable to break down a steady Jersey defence. Near the end with a bonus point in sight Jersey‘s second row made a break and put in winger Ed Dawson at the corner. With the conversion over this was the final score.

Combe had been forced to make changes to the side through injury and availability. It was a great team effort, with all players making a big contribution, but one player who impressed all the spectators was the youngster scrum-half Joe Wilkes. It was a pity that the team had to fly back home soon after the finish of the game, and so it was left to the very many Combe supporters who had made the trip to enjoy the Jersey hospitality, in the usual fashion.

Combe XV : Brown; Hockedy, Purdy, Davies, Adeniya; Spelman, Wilkes; McKinnell, Brooks, Mitchell, Watkins, Wright, Winslade, Tidd, Catlin.
Sub.s : Barton, Wallace, Street, C., Rainford, Foster.

Highlights now online at:

http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline_rugby/home.asp

Next week Combe are at home to Old Albanians, kick off 2.00 pm.

Match reporter : Bruce Mackenzie.