Combe miss out on Christmas cheer

There was a lot riding on the game: TJ’s were league leaders (and still are), they had lost once (to Combe earlier in the season), and the winners would proceed to the Kent Cup final as both sides had drawn each other in the semi-final. But it looked doubtful that the game would ever go ahead. It was foggy and only half an hour before kick-off did it begin to lift. There was a big crowd in, full of Christmas spirit.
Combe started briskly and were soon pressing the opposition line. A James Cameron penalty shot at goal was short, and TJ’s countered to have a go themselves. Liam Prescott banged it over to get the scoreboard started. 0-3. Combe were quickly down the other end, again close to the try line and putting several phases together only for TJ’s winger, George Lawson, to intercept and scamper away to score at the other end. Prescott converted and TJ’s with little ball and just two forays into Combe territory are 0-10 up with fifteen minutes gone. Easy points. James Cameron went off injured, Combe re-grouped and began to claw their way back. Once again the pack were strong in the set piece. Frankie Neale slotted a long range penalty, 3-10. Kicking to the corner, chipping ahead Combe were close. Scrum near the line, drive and Shaun Dixon plunges over. Frankie Neale converts for 10-10. TJ’s kick to the corner, the drive is held, TJ’s scrum is under pressure, Combe clear but are not out of danger yet. TJ’s intercept again but without the same effect, Charlie Edwards makes a clean break but is then closed down, TJ’s chase out and with Combe’s defence back-tracking the visitors have the final play of the half, a penalty chance for Liam Prescott. 10-13. Finely balanced. TJ’s with limited possession and visits to the Combe half have punished mistakes and come away with points. Combe have found it difficult to break through or turn the TJ’s defence. All to play for.
Indeed, Combe began the re-start in earnest. Charlie Edwards again on the break, then multi-phases, re-cycling, TJ’s in retreat, and Ant Hitchcock forces his way over in the corner. Frankie Neale nails the touchline conversion. 17-13. Five minutes later Combe are in the corner again, line-out, drive, almost over. Scrum, big push, Alex Campbell controls at the back, Charlie Edwards collects and he is over. 22-13. The conversion attempt hits the cross bar and bounces the wrong way for Frankie Neale. Into the last quarter. TJ’s are not finished, but for a while are denied by brave Combe tackling. Another big scrum from Combe gives Frankie Neale a long range chance at goal but it goes wide. Less than ten minutes to go and for Combe to hold out. But pegged back in their own twenty-two, Combe’s defence is stretched and Murray Galbraith-Lowe finds a gap to go over. Prescott converts for 18-22. Five minutes, four, three minutes. TJ’s have the momentum now, and although their scrum is in retreat they hang onto possession. They also have the benefit of free-kick awards, quickly taken which again catches Combe’s defence stretched and Murray Galbraith-Lowe dives over in the corner for his second, and the winning score. There is no time for Combe to respond.
It was a cracker. TJ’s remain top of the table, Combe still in third. A ‘losing’ bonus point scant reward. A well-earned break for two weeks, then the campaign starts again in Guernsey on 7th January, and the next home game for Combe will be on 14th January when Westcliff visit.
Westcombe Park XV: F. Neale; N. Thomas, B. Bateup, A. Hitchcock, T. Gray; J. Cameron, C. Edwards; J. Stanford, J. Bonner, J. Forsyth, T. Clarke, C. O’Sullivan, L. Covington, S. Dixon, A. Campbell.
Subs: R. Conlon, M. Davey, H. Sansbury.
Match reporter - Bruce Mackenzie.