Combe caught out in the cold

It was bitterly cold. Baltic. A biting north wind throughout the game. Combe played into it for the first half and at 16-3 down at half-time, it was possible perhaps to turn it around with the conditions now in their favour. But it was not to be. The Wild Geese did not panic, and were patient enough to wait to capitalise on Combe’s errors, and wily and secure in defence.

Combe gave away too many penalties in the first half. Wild Geese full back Olli Turner knocked over three. He added a conversion to George Owen’s early try, and come the interval the home side had rattled up 16 points, with only a solitary penalty goal from James Cameron in reply. Combe tried to keep the ball in hand, and had a fair share of the possession. Into the wind they played a fair amount in the opposition half and at times they threatened the opposition line, but could not break down the Irish determined defence. Barely two scores ahead at the end of the first period was not a convincing lead, as the wind would not ease, and it would be Combe’s turn to have the advantage of the elements.

At the re-start Combe immediately got the scoreboard moving. Winning a turnover and with the Irish defence in retreat, James Cameron slotted a second penalty goal. But then, and not for the last time, Combe’s clearing kick went straight to the arms of the Irish, who ran it back and from the breakdown in Combe’s 22 Irish scrum-half Tom Barker picked up and scampered in for a try, converted by Olli Turner. 23-6. The mountain Combe now had to climb had grown bigger. There was half an hour still to go. But Combe remained in the hunt. Dale Bellinger began to make some inroads, Tom Gray at last got a run, but the Irish defence held. Another Combe penalty, this time on the half-way seemed like a long shot, as indeed it was. Losing height but wind assisted the ball brushed the cross-bar and in slow motion bounced over. Fortunate. 23-9, still thirty minutes left on the clock. But Combe could not clear their lines. Irish countered and after several phases winger George Owen was in at the left corner for his second try of the day. 28-9. Hopes of a comeback were fading along with the light. It looked ominous when play went from end to end as the Irish kicked out and collected a kind bounce. George Owen seemed clear to the line, but great work by Omar Dixon chasing back caught him and brought him down just short to save the day. Time was now running out. Irish were desperate to keep their line intact. Combe were equally keen to cross it. They did so in a final flourish with Ant Hitchcock going over out on the left for an unconverted try, just before the final whistle.

Next week Combe are at home to Chichester with a 2.00pm kick-off.

Westcombe Park XV: F. Neale; Gray, A. Hitchcock, D. Bonner, O. Dixon; J. Cameron, R. Cattanach; M. Poole, J. Bonner, N. Porter, A. Weighton, K. Coulter, R. Adeniyi-Jones, L. Covington, S. Dixon.
Subs: R. Conlon, D. Bellinger, M. Holmes.

Match reporter - Bruce Mackenzie.