Combe hammer Amersham

They ran in seven tries, and for the second week running a Combe winger notched up a hat-trick, Combe kept a clean sheet in the second half, and earned another try-bonus point. The travelling support had to suffer troubling journeys getting there on time, as well as wind and rain but were rewarded, at times, with some quality rugby.

Combe started with the wind and slope towards the clubhouse. First minute, first scrum, first penalty, and James Cameron obliges. 0-3. Combe have pegged Amersham back in their twenty-two, and are probing for a breakthrough. Scrum to Combe, the pack drive for the line, penalty advantage, but it is Tommy Gray steaming up to take a short ball and crash over, for his first. James Cameron adds the conversion. 0-10.Two minutes later, Combe are on the attack again. Frankie Neale starts it in his half, Tom Dowding takes his opposite number on the outside and just short of the line the ball is over for Frankie Neale to dot down in the corner. No conversion. 0-15. Fifteen minutes on the clock. Ten minutes later Combe have their third. Ben Hennah and Jordan Saunders are making yards with their straight running, re-cycled ball, swift hands and Ant Hitchcock is over by the posts. James Cameron converts. 0-22. Blink, because three minutes later Combe have their fourth and with it the bonus point. Again set up by the backs, Ben Hennah, Frankie Neale, and Tom Dowding with a back-handed off-load finds Tom Gray who is over in the corner. The conversion attempt hits the upright, and with ten minutes to go before the interval Combe are looking comfortable at 0-27. Perhaps they drop guard, as Amersham at last find time in Combe’s half. They pound the line but Combe’s defence remains solid. In the last minutes of the half, Amersham have a penalty on Combe’s twenty-two, a quick tap and go and scrum half Mike McDonald scampers away to score in the corner. The home side have sprung into life and finish the half close to but not over Combe’s line. 5-27 half-time.

Come the re-start the wind has dropped, but there is still rain in the air. Ben Hennah begins the half with two strong runs up the middle. Combe’s pack is on top. They win the scrums, and drive from the line-out. Another burst from Ben Hennah, the ball is swiftly back, forwards link and put Tommy Gray in at the left corner for his third. James Cameron converts. 5-34. Ten minutes gone. Combe on the attack again. Luke Bellinger, James Cameron, Alban Edwards on debut, Tom Dowding all involved. Tom Dowding is injured. Frankie Neale counters, chips through but is checked. Yellow card for Amersham, penalty to Combe, kick to the corner. Combe drive the line-out and at the second surge Jimi Stanford burrows over. No conversion. 5-39. Last quarter. With limited possession but wind assisted the home side can still make forays into Combe’s half and twenty-two. Combe have the confidence but not always the conviction to try and run out of trouble and away from danger. Into the final minutes, Combe have Amersham on the back foot. Just outside the twenty-two the ball is spun out, Jordan Saunders receives, sells one of his dummies, no defenders in the way, it’s a trot in. James Cameron converts. That’s it, final score 5-46.

There is no change at the top of the league as the leading five all enjoyed bonus point wins this weekend, but it’s becoming a struggle at the other end. Next week is a rest week. The programme starts up again with a home fixture for Combe on 22nd October. Dorking are the visitors, and it is a scheduled 3.00pm kick-off, but check the web site nearer the time, in case there is a change of plan, as summer is over and we are well into autumn.

Westcombe Park XV: F. Neale; T. Dowding, A. Hitchcock, B. Hennah, T. Gray; J. Cameron, A. Edwards; J. Saunders, S. Perry, J. Forsyth, L. Bellinger, C. O’Sullivan, M. Davey, L. Covington, A. Campbell.
Subs: J. Stanford, D. Fox, J. Penney.

Match reporter - Bruce Mackenzie.