A dominant Combe pack laid the foundations for an emphatic victory over Westcliff.

Despite an early setback, Combe had the upper hand for most of the match. Westcliff fought manfully but were outmuscled up front particularly at scrum time. Combe kept the scoreboard ticking over nicely but there was once again a flurry of tries at the end as the Westcliff scrum began to disintegrate and Combe romped away to a 59 – 12 victory.

The early portents were good and Combe were soon on the scoreboard with a James Cameron penalty after Westcliff dropped a scrum in front of their posts. Then there were good runs from Nathan Thomas and Mark Davey but Combe were coughing up penalties. From a Combe high tackle, Westcliff kicked for touch and from the line-out drove with purpose and were awarded a penalty try after Combe dropped the maul. Chris Dudman kicked the conversion and Westcliff were 3 – 7 ahead after 20 mins. From the re-start, the Combe pack disrupted two scrums in succession and laid siege to the Wesctcliff line. Eventually, Joe Bonner went over after a catch and drive. James Cameron slotted the conversion, 10 – 7 with half an hour on the clock. From the re-start, Nathan Thomas made another burst down the wing but was tackled into touch. Westcliff were penalised for delaying the throw-in and, after a quick tap and go, Combe spun the ball wide and with quick hands the ball went to Tommy Gray who rounded the defence to score. James Cameron converted, 17 – 7. Westcliff were beginning to feel the heat and had two players carded within minutes, the first for a front-row infringement, the other for pulling back a player. Combe piled on the pressure and from a 5m scrum, spun the ball to the wing then back inside for Shaun Dixon to score between the posts. James Cameron converted, 24 – 7. Then, with the last play of the half, Combe retrieved a kick ahead and attacked down the right and Alex Campbell was at hand to flick an inside pass out the back of his hand to put Tommy Gray in by the posts, James Cameron converted, 31 – 7 at half-time.

All credit to Westcliff as they started the 2nd half with all guns blazing. They quickly won a line-out and attacked down the middle and then right. Combe were penalised and Westcliff kicked to touch deep in Combe territory. A catch and drive from the line-out and Chris Marsh was over in the corner, unconverted, 31 – 12. For the next quarter of an hour both sides toiled but could not find any rhythm to their game. Once again, an overly pedantic referee did not help matters. What was apparent, though, was the increasing dominance of the Combe scrum, which started to demolish the opposition and strangle any attempts Westclliff had to get back into the game. Eventually, the dam burst and Combe ran in four tries in the last 20 minutes, all converted by James Cameron. On the hour, from a 5m scrum, Bradley Saffery scored between the posts. Then, from an interception, Combe attacked left and then right to Tommy Gray who kicked ahead and won the foot race to get his hat-trick. Westcliff were still competing but couldn’t make any real headway due to Combe’s dominance up front. Combe turned over a line-out on half way and kicked ahead but the ball was fumbled by Westcliff. From the penalty, Combe drove on towards the Westcliff line and Tom Christopher dived over to score. Finally, the highlight of the afternoon. From the re-start, Shaun Dixon caught the ball and drove forward, then on to Frankie Neale and eventually to Max Roddick, who embarked on a jinking run outside then in. An inside pass to Jamie Forsyth who outrageously “showed and went”, then an extravagant pass out of the back of his hand to Dan Fox who crashed over between the posts. The final score was 59 – 12.

James Cameron was “man of the match” for kicking 19 points (1 penalty and 8 conversions) but also for the wonderful pick-up off his toes that lead to Tommy Gray’s second try. Another five point win cements Combe’s 3rd place position. Next week Combe are away to Dorking.

Westcombe Park XV: F. Neale, H. Sansbury, B. Saffery, D. Bonner, T. Gray, J. Cameron, J. Munton, R. Conlon, J. Bonner, J. Forsyth, C. O’Sullivan, M. Davey, N. Thomas, S. Dixon, A. Campbell. Subs : T. Christopher (65), D. Fox (60), M. Roddick (65).

Match Reporter – Franklin Pastry