League rugby returned to Goddington Dene for the first time in two months. Visitors Ding Crusaders must have been keen not to repeat last seasons high scoring game when they came off second best, and Combe were ready for action and to re-start their season. But the snowmelt had left a pitch that was sticky to start with, and come the end had turned to a mud bath. Not a day to show off all the skills in the locker. There was a chill wind from the clubhouse end and at times the sun appeared.
Combe were quickly about their business. From a counter attack launched in their own half, Jack Emmerson out on the right hand touch line off loaded to his second row partner Jon Wright who went through the gap in the defence and put in Joe Wilkes who had a sprint to the line. 5-0 with five minutes gone. The conversion was not successful, and within a couple of minutes Dings had their first shot at goal for points. 5-3. Dings were keen to ‘ get the ball to Pierre’, the right winger Pierre Tucker, but he met his match in Tom Hockedy, and anyway underfoot conditions would slow down any sweeping passing moves. Combe failed with a penalty kick at goal. Dings won their scrum midfield, but under pressure fumbled and spilled the ball which Combe then hacked through, and Anthony Braithwaite out-sprinted everyone to get the touch down out on the left. The conversion by Luke Giles went over and Combe were 12-3 up going into the second quarter. Dings launched wave after wave of attacks, and eventually the pressure told as Combe conceded a penalty in front of their posts which Mitch Burton slotted over for 12-6. Dings were beginning to enjoy the better possession and position and from a line out and drive and a series of surges for the line they worked left winger Sam Caven in for a try, which was not converted. 12-11. That was the half time score.
The second half started with Combe under the cosh. Dings hacked through, Hockedy won the touch down but had to concede the five metre scrum. Combe conceded another five metre scrum. Dings did not get through, though they won a penalty after five minutes and had to settle for three points for their efforts. 12-14, and Dings were in the lead for the first time. Combe fought back. Unfortunately Braithwiate hobbled off injured. Giles had another successful penalty attempt to regain the lead 15-14. Combe were still in the game. Neither side was dominating or making clear chances. But within twenty minutes, three errors by Combe were swiftly punished by the visitors and turned into points for the winning margin. First Niki Davies fielded the ball in the 22, showed to pass, then went to kick, but this was smothered and collected by No.8 Gavin Curry who trotted in for an unconverted try out on the left 15-19. Then a needless penalty was given away in the corner, kicked over by Burton for 15-22, and with five minutes to go a late charge on Burton brought not only a yellow card for Cliff Street but also another kickable penalty for Burton 15 - 25. Any thoughts of a win downgraded to thoughts maybe of a draw, and now even a losing bonus point was becoming a distant dream. But to their credit Combe finished strongly and were rewarded with a penalty kick in front of the posts with what was the last kick of the game. Bonus point retrieved. Final score 18-25. To be fair for the last quarter Combe had been disrupted by injuries and had used up all the bench, and both half backs were off. At the same time if Dings had kicked more of their goals there could have been more daylight between the sides.
Next week Combe travel to Henley, another mid-table side, for the return fixture. Combe lost by five points at home back in September. The next home game is Jan. 22nd against Lydney, who were beaten by Combe in October.

Combe XV : Giles; Hockedy, Purdy, Davies, Adeniya: Braithwaite, Wilkes; McKinnell, Brooks, Mitchell, Emmerson, Wright, Winslade, Tidd, Wallis.
Subs. ( all used ) ; Barton, Kavanagh, Street,C., Catlin, Lewis.

Match Reporter Bruce Mackenzie