They Don't Get Much Closer Than This!

There was probably a chance of a promotion place at stake, the weight of history between the clubs, as the Presidents' nostalgically pointed out and the competition of the current campaign all attached to this game. But the players would care little about any of that on the day.

They would be much more concerned about the conditions both below and above which led to both packs unable to gain advantage on a regular basis and handling mistakes galore.

With shades of the game at Shelford in mind, this game was never going to produce a high scoring fest but was destined as a dour encounter from the start despite TJ's scoring a try in the opening three minutes, which was to prove pivotal.

Starting at pace TJ's had soon pushed Combe back into their 22 and a hack through saw both their wing forwards (Cole Campbell and Jamie Metcalf) streaking through a flat footed defence side by side to get a touch-down which they're probably still arguing about!

The conversion was missed and the score remained 5—0 for the best part of half-an-hour with two dogged defences limiting play to centre field but both sides also had their moments in attack that invariably came to an end with the proverbial “bar of soap” such as it is these days, handling error.

At this point TJ's extended their lead with Ryan Fuller taking advantage of one of the few kickable penalties for an 8—0 scoreline.

Combe upped their effort in the remaining ten minutes of the half but were limited, by a stout defence under pressure, to two penalties. The first one after five minutes James Cameron slotted brilliantly the second virtually on the stroke of half-time was so narrowly missed I for one was left wondering why the RFU appointed and wired touch-judges were not raising their flags.

At the interval both sides remained on the pitch, surprisingly, given the bitter cold but probably preferable to the quagmire that separated them from the sanctuary of their dressing-rooms.

Nothing much changed after the break with the defences being the dominant feature again. The only difference between the sides was the nature of the discipline and unfortunately for Combe, whatever the reason, perceived or actual, they did not have the rub of the green.

With TJ's defence ensuring most of the action was away from their danger areas, after 14 minutes the first chance of points inevitably fell to them with another penalty but it was unsuccessful.

Three minutes later Combe turned the match on its head when Tommy Gray, from Combe's half came from nowhere to slice through TJ's cover to run, mostly unopposed, to the line. The conversion was successfully slotted by the ever reliable James Cameron and Combe were in the lead for the first time since the third minute. 8—10.

It stayed like that for more than ten minutes but TJ's determination to ensure play was away from their danger areas and Combe's indiscipline were to take there toll. The two came together deep inside Combe's half and in front of the posts.

There are times when I think the automatic reaction of the deliberate knock-on is unjustly punished with a penalty and a yellow card—this was not one of those occasions.

Ryan Fuller made short work of the kick that put TJ's back in the lead by a single point.

There was at least ten or twelve minutes left for Combe to get back but TJ's quickly re-established their game plan and hung on tenaciously to the end.

With only seven games remaining TJ's are faced with some difficult away fixtures to Shelford, Guernsey and London Irish Wild Geese as well as one at home to Hertford. Followers of Combe will know what a potential banana skin that can be! Combe also have Guernsey and Wild Geese, but at home and there is also the little matter of what EG's will have to say about it all.

Combe's Squad: Frankie Neale; Tommy Gray, Ant Hitchcock, Dave Bonner, Sam Randle; James Cameron, Rob Cattanach; Matt Poole, Joe Bonner, Reece Conlon; Tom Clark, Kyle Coulter; James Lindfield, Lee Covington, Shaun Dixon. James Snape, Mark Davey, Jordan Davies.

Match Reporter: Mike Attewell (out of retirement for one week only, or perhaps two or three)