Conditions again were perfect. The sun was shining and the pitch in good condition. Both sets of supporters were in good voice in anticipation of an open game of rugby.
Combe started strongly and were soon on the attack spinning the ball right to Tommy Gray who scored in the corner but the conversion was missed. Gravesend responded from the restart pegging Combe back on their 22 and forcing a penalty which was nailed by Jacob Berthelsen. From the kick off Combe conceded a penalty and Gravesend kicked to touch. Combe stole the lineout and drove down the middle. The ball was spun wide and Ant Hitchcock’s slick pass put Tommy Gray in at the corner for his second try. Frankie Neale added the conversion. 3 – 12 to Combe after 10 mins. There was a sense that Combe thought they were in for an easy afternoon. Gravesend had other ideas. From the restart Combe kicked to touch. Gravesend won the line out and attacked down the middle and with tackles missed Tom Goss touched down on the left. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, 8 – 12 after barely 12 mins. There had been no love lost between the two sides from the outset and a thumping tackle on the Gravesend scrum half Jacob Berthelsen, resulting in him leaving the field, raised the temperature further. Combe were starting to lose their cool and were penalised at the ensuing scrum and with poor Combe tacking again, Tom Goss ran in unopposed to get his second try. Another conversion missed but Gravesend ahead at 13 – 12 for the first time. Further mistakes in the Combe defence saw Temi Okenla score for Gravesend shortly afterwards. Again the conversion was missed but Gravesend 18 – 12 ahead. What had been an increasingly ill tempered contest boiled over after 25 mins. after an incident at a ruck. Punches were exchanged and the referee called both captains for a dressing down. The rest of the half was more of the same with Combe’s indiscipline limiting their possession and territory but with Gravesend unable to capitalise. Frankie Neale and Jacob Bacon exchanged penalties and Gravesend finished the half 21 – 15 but not before Tommy Gray was yellow carded.
At the commencement of hostilities, Combe indiscipline continued to cede territory and possession. Even the scrum which had been dominant in the first half began to creek. Immediately there was another yellow card for Combe. Gravesend took advantage and quickly scored again with the substitute Will Meddings going over and Jacob Bacon notching the conversion, 28 – 15 to Gravesend. Combe at last responded winning a line out on their own 22 and spinning it right and then left to conjure a try for Sam Randle, converted by Frankie Neale, 28 – 22 after 55 mins. Going into the last quarter Gravesend were visibly starting to feel the pace and Combe, sensing this, regained some poise and started to gain the upper hand. With 10 mins. to go Combe disrupted a Gravesend scrum on half way. Mark Davey secured the ball and Sam Randle was put over in the corner for his second try, again converted by Frankie Neale. Combe were in the lead 29 – 28 for the first time in almost an hour. Still time to make sure and Combe lay siege to the Gravesend line with their big forwards driving. Finally a rolling maul and Chris Lewis was driven over the line. Frankie Neale converted from wide out to cap a superb kicking display on his debut for Combe.
The final score was 36 – 28 to Combe, who gained maximum points. All credit for a stirring fight back. But indiscipline for long periods could well have cost us the game.

Westcombe Park XV: F. Neale, T. Gray, A. Hitchcock, D. Bonner, S. Randle, J. Simpson, R. Cattenach, J.Saunders, J. Bonner, N. Porter, D.Bellinger, A. Weighton, J. Lindfield, L. Covington, M. Davey. Subs : R. Conlon, C. Lewis, M. Holmes.

Match reporter – Franklin Pastry.