Combe come away empty handed

Combe enjoyed much of the game on their visit to Somerset, but frustratingly came up short when they failed to score points in the first half which they dominated, and in the second half lost concentration for ten minutes to let hosts Taunton go ahead and stay ahead.
It was almost shirt sleeve order for the travelling fans basking in the warm winter sunshine, spilling outside the bars, and sampling the pasties and local brew. There was a positive buzz of anticipation : Combe might pull off a result as their play over the last few weeks was improving rapidly, and Taunton had had a couple of recent reverses. Indeed after an initial onslaught by Taunton, Combe dominated the next thirty minutes, but failed to get points on the board. The backs were finding some open space, and the forwards were driving and making ground, but the Taunton defenders, playing on the limit could slow down Combe’s possession at the breakdown and pressured them into mistakes or rushed decision making. A penalty shot at goal from Joe Simpson went wide, a penalty kick to touch went too deep. Taunton No. 8 Nick Burnett was yellow carded, but even with the one man advantage all Combe’s efforts were being thwarted. The inevitable happened. Taunton escaped to the Combe half, centre Sam Saunders was tackled and turned, but squeezed the ball to winger Jason Luff to burst through the gap and score. 5-0. The try was converted by Gary Kingdom. Then almost on the stroke of half-time Taunton ran again and out-half Tony Yapp looped round to cross the line for an unconverted try. 12-0 to the hosts at half time and they might be the first to admit themselves, they had not been in the game.
Combe started the second half in earnest, but they had re-arranged the backs. The half backs had been substituted, and the back three re-aligned. Michael Adeniya had a good run down the right hand touch line and was able to get his pass away, although full back Tom Hockedy had to take it one handed behind his back, but it was enough to seem him through for a try, which Paul Trendell converted. The ball was now getting out wide. Adeniya had some more runs but Taunton kept him and Combe out. A penalty for Combe was put over by Trendell, so with only ten minutes of the half gone, Combe were right back in the game at 12-10. But for a nightmare ten minutes Combe lost concentration and this turned the game. Combe messed up a pick up at the base of the scrum, allowing Taunton into the 22, sub. Christian Gervais ran left and put winger Luff in for his second try. 17-10. Shortly after second row Charlie Lenygon drove over near the posts for a converted try, 24-10, and two minutes later after some softening up approach work by Apo Satala, left wing Kyle Giblett scored in the corner. 29-10, and fifteen minutes to go.
Combe were stung back into action. Fresh legs and a kick into the Taunton 22, Combe had a penalty and took the line-out and drive option. The pack drove over, the ball last seen in the hands of Ben McKinnell. From the touchline Trendell’s conversion sailed over to bring Combe back to 29-17. But it was too little too late, and as the shadows over the pitch lengthened Combe finished with a final flourish, taking a scrum against the head, No.8 pick up, through hands but just brought up short.
It had been an encouraging performance, although frustrating. Taunton were full of praise and compliments, as were the visiting supporters. But for all the hard work, and periods of dominance there was nothing to show for it, and no league points for Combe. Next week Combe visit Hinckley in the re-arranged away fixture.

Combe XV : May; Hockedy, Tumath, Davies, Adeniya; Simpson, McDonough; McKinnell, Barton, Mitchell, Wright, Watkins, Bradford, Catlin, Wallis.
Subs. Brooks, Hopkins, Farris, Chatley, Trendell.

Match reporter : Bruce Mackenzie.