Combe’s to lose or Guernsey’s to win? Read on……..

The Guernsey Raiders are on a bit of a roll, and this was a smash and grab.

Anyone listening to the shipping forecast in the morning would have been prepared for an afternoon of wind and rain, added to which it was slippery underfoot. Take best advantage of the elements when you have them. Combe had them at the kick-off, and the combined wisdom on the rails was three plus scores or 22 points might be enough to defend come the turnaround. The wind and rain would not be letting up. After Guernsey had the ball in the early exchanges, once Combe got their fair share of possession they could show their intentions. A chip to the corner, but the bouncing ball had the better of Tommy Gray, Frankie Neale was almost clear up the middle only to slip, and another break ended with a stray pass. A score was coming. Near the half way Ant Hitchcock hacked out the back of a Guernsey ruck, and won the chase into the corner. Not an easy conversion, but 5-0. Five minutes later skipper Joe Bonner led the charge from the front of a line-out, carried on by Reece Conlon, quick ball, and they are queuing up on the right. Ant Hitchcock again in at the corner. Not an easy conversion, still 10-0, and into the second quarter. Again from quick ball out on the left, chip to the right wing and Tommy Gray collects under the nose of the visitors’ defence to score in the corner. Not an easy conversion, but now James Cameron has his range. 17-0. It’s looking quite promising, but then the Raider’s back row led a charge into Combe’s 22, Combe concede a penalty, quick tap and go and scrum-half Adam Nixon is over by the posts allowing an easy conversion for Owen Thomas. With the end of the first half now looming Combe could do with some more points. James Cameron obliges with a penalty from half-way, only for the Raiders to eat into the lead when Blair Campbell scores by the posts from a scrum near the line, and again it is an easy conversion for Owen Thomas. 20-14 at half-time. For Combe the twenty is just about alright, but undermined by fourteen for the visitors. Combe will have their work cut out in the second half.

The wind and rain persist. Combe are pinned back for a while until Frankie Neale’s run out of trouble takes play close to the visitors’ line. Guernsey spill at the lineout, and Shaun Dixon at the back collects and plunges over. 25-14. Shortly after Frankie Neale again finds space and puts Sam Randle clear down the left, but the inside pass goes astray. Chance gone. Guernsey are not finished yet, indeed they are building up a head of steam. Combe have done well so far to keep the Raiders out, but into the last ten minutes winger Malcolm Barnes is in at the right corner through some slack tackling. Not an easy conversion, and now the Raiders are only six points behind. Moreover they have the momentum. These are the last minutes, they come again, once more down the right and it’s Matthew Armstrong who squeezes in at the corner to make it 25-24. Not an easy conversion, but now Owen Thomas has found his range to slot it over. 25-26! Perhaps one last chance for Combe from a scrum in the Raiders’ 22, but the chip through and behind comes to nothing. Maybe a bumpy flight back home to Guernsey but surely a happy one.

There is still plenty to play for, but the league programme schedules only two games in March, Colchester away on 5th March, and then league leaders London Irish at home on 19th March.

Westcombe Park XV: F. Neale; T. Gray, A. Hitchcock, D. Bonner, S. Randle; J. Cameron, R. Cattanach; M .Poole, J. Bonner, R. Conlon, T. Clarke, K. Coulter, L. Bellinger, L. Covington, S. Dixon.
Subs: R. Gill, J. Lindfield, J. Davies.

Match reporter – Bruce Mackenzie.