Combe stumble at Henley

Away at Henley Hawks, Combe went down to another defeat on Saturday. In a nightmare start to the second half Combe conceded three quick tries by the hosts, which was good enough to see them home the winners with a bonus point as well. Combe finished strongly, but Henley had done the damage, and their lead thereafter was never convincingly threatened.
A 3 pm kick-off allowed plenty of time to travel to the game. This proved necessary. The kitty was blown immediately, paying to get in. Not a lot of travelling support this week: one just-walking wounded, two dads, four blazers, four anoraks. It started in the gloom and as darkness fell, and the kites retired, it finished under the lights. The pitch looked trim and the going was good, but the wind was gusting and fickle. Combe started with the elements but made mistakes straightaway. The kick-off did not go ten metres, and at the scrum back, Combe charged and gave away a free kick, so began the game in their own half. Henley were playing through their forwards, trying to bullock through, before bringing the backs into play. It looked ominous for Combe. One Henley attack came close but the final pass went into touch. Next they seemed to scramble over for a score in the corner but no try was awarded. After twenty minutes though the scoreboard was started up. From a scrum out on the right Henley ran the ball and the way to the line opened up for the second row Dave Clements to steam in and score. The try went unconverted. 5-0. Combe bounced back with some good off-loads, and with a couple of scrums and a couple of drives close to the Henley line, it was Catlin at last who dived over from close range, although it needed the touch judge’s confirmation . The try was converted, by Luke Giles, so Combe were in the lead 5-7. Henley had the more possession and seemed to be in control, but their attacks were held, by a resolute, and sometimes desperate Combe defence. On the half hour though a bad knee injury to Graham Purdy, stopped play for a while, and Combe had to re-jig their back line, but they held on to the lead going into half time.
Henley started the second half on a mission. Within two minutes, No. 8 Matt Payne had a long run from a pick up at the scrum, full back Tom Allen cut back inside but was stopped right on the line. It seemed that Combe won a turnover but the ball was loose getting back on the Combe side allowing flanker Tom Stradwick to pounce and score an unconverted try. 10-7. Five minutes later Stradwick was on hand to take James Comben’s pass for his second score. Comben converted. 17-7. Combe brought on their back row subs, in time for Bradford to make a saving tackle in the corner, but on fifteen minutes Henley had their fourth try with simple passing and running down the line, made easier from poor tackling by Combe. Centre Ali James went over, Comben failed to convert. 22-7. Henley had done enough. Combe struggled to get back in the game. They showed urgency, but lacked poise. Luke Giles landed a penalty for 22-10. There was a good break with men over, but this attack was swallowed up; Combe pressed the Henley line but lost the ball and gave away a penalty five metres short; Tom Hockedy had a good run on the left and seemed to be past his man, but hesitated. In the final minutes Combe camped on the Henley line with scrum after scrum, and countless phases, but were unable to get through. Henley were content to concede the penalties and a yellow card but had kept the visitors at bay, and denied them a bonus point of their own. Final score 22-10.

Combe XV: Hockedy; Lewis, Purdy, Davies, Adeniya; Giles, Buttery: McKinnell, Barton, Mitchell, Wright, Watkins, Catlin, Winslade, Wallace.
Subs : Brooks, Kavanagh, Bradford, Street,C., Leeper.

Next week Combe are home at Goddington Dene hoping to do the double over visitors Lydney. Kick off 2.00 pm.