A special occasion, playing in pink in front of a festive crowd: it was Ladies’ Day all day and The Old Crocks Lunch beforehand. It may have been dry but there was a chill north wind blowing.

Score early, score often. Combe took a while to settle into their stride as it was the visitors, Bracknell, who enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges. They had a couple of penalties whilst on the attack in Combe’s twenty-two, but Combe defended them and gradually worked play away to the opposite end. Quick ball and Frankie Neale was in space to score by the posts. A couple of minutes later, skipper Joe Bonner made a break up the left to find Luke Bellinger on hand to trot in by the posts. Five minutes later, quick ball off the top of the line-out, break up the middle, and Tommy Gray was over, again by the posts. With twenty minutes on the clock, Combe had their fourth try for a bonus point when James Lindfield was on the back of a drive from the line-out. James Cameron slotted his fourth conversion. Combe up 28-0. With the Combe pack putting together some ‘picks and drives’ close to the line James Lindfield was soon over again, although it was more of a struggle to complete the touchdown. Another conversion for James Cameron. Bracknell were not rolling over. They had a run up the left but spilled with the line at their mercy. Combe responded when James Cameron checked, found Tommy Gray who froze the defence with his jinking run off both feet to score by the posts. Conversion. Combe up 42-0 with the half-time whistle poised. Time though for Bracknell get on the scoreboard when from a breakdown on Combe’s twenty-two, Ally Walton broke clear and scampered in for a try, converted by Lewis Dennett. 42-7, half-time. What next?

Combe rang the changes at the turnround, with the bench now on. From the re-start Combe were looking for more. Within three minutes, Ant Hitchcock scored after approach work and set-up by Frank Reynolds. Frankie Neale knocked over the conversion. But Bracknell struck back. A breakaway up the left and Ian Burch squeezed in at the corner, with Dennett adding the conversion. Half an hour yet to go but for the next twenty minutes or so it was stalemate. More substitutions. Bracknell came close again, through in the left corner but brought back for a foot in touch. With ten minutes to go Combe picked up the tempo. Frankie Neale started it, Luke Bellinger carried it on, and Rob Cattanach in the clear took the scoring pass to touch down by the posts. James Cameron back on conversion duties. Combe lead 56-14. Minutes later it’s Joe Bonner over for a try after Shaun Dixon, Luke Bellinger, again, and Ant Hitchcock had made the inroads up the left. To complete his perfect kicking display, James Cameron converted for his sixth out of six. But the game was not finished yet. Bracknell battling away to the last scored again when Ben Yates went over after a quick tap penalty close to Combe’s line. 63-19.

Very different from the opening game of the season when these two sides met. Then it was tight with both sides a bit rusty. For the final game Combe could put all their hard work together: fitness, confidence, support play, pace and power. All much appreciated by the crowd of supporters, who now had their own challenge to face. It had been a long day, it was now to be a long night.

The season is not quite over as Combe are lined up against Blackheath in the Kent Cup Final next Sunday, 1st May at Aylesford Bulls RFC, kick-off 4.00pm.

Westcombe Park XV: F. Neale; T. Gray, A. Hitchcock, D. Bonner, S. Randle; J. Cameron, R. Cattanach; M. Poole, J. Bonner, N. Porter, T. Clarke, R. Cooke, L. Covington, J. Lindfield, L. Bellinger.
Subs: R. Conlon, S. Dixon, F. Reynolds.

Match reporter - Bruce Mackenzie.