The game was much closer than the scoreboard suggests. Indeed, there was little between the two sides in terms of possession and territory. The difference was that Combe took their chances with clinical efficiency, while Dorking, apart from an early score, could not penetrate a well marshalled and resolute defence, which was aided and abetted by a scrum that didn’t know the meaning of the word ‘reverse’.

Dorking were quickly on the attack and from a catch and drive near the Combe line, perfectly executed a ‘missed move’ in the centre, which resulted in full back Ben Hatton scoring between the posts. Matt Noble slotted the conversion and the home side were 7 - 0 up with barely 3 mins on the clock. Combe responded by laying siege to the Dorking line for an extended period with the Combe pack to the fore. There were numerous scrums and drives off the back from Alex Campbell and it seemed only a matter of time before Combe scored. Eventually, they did. From a 5m scrum, Alex Campbell broke right and the ball was fed to Frankie Neale who went over in the corner, 7 – 5 after 12 mins. Dorking came back strongly and from a chip ahead, and a fortuitous bounce, they were held up just short. Now it was their turn to camp on the Combe line. There followed a succession of Dorking lines-out and drives attacking left, right and through the middle but somehow the Combe defence refused to be breached. Eventually, Combe weathered the storm and from a Dorking kick-ahead gathered the ball and attacked up the right with Alex Campbell going over wide-out. James Cameron kicked the conversion, 7 – 12 on the half hour. From the re-start Combe piled on the pressure particularly at scrum time where the Combe pack had taken total control. Dorking defended manfully but eventually the pressure told and from a 10m scrum Alex Campbell fed Frankie Neale who went over in the corner. James Cameron converted and it was 7 – 19 at half time. Although the score-line somewhat flattered Combe, they took their chances while Dorking didn’t.

Straight from the resumption, Combe knocked on and Matt Noble kicked a penalty, 10 – 19. Dorking were still in the hunt and once again upped their game but the Combe defence and scrum held firm. From a Dorking kick, Frankie Neale was adjudged to have been late tackled and Matt Noble was carded. This controversial incident seemed to deflate Dorking for a while. Frankie Neale kicked the penalty deep into Dorking territory. Combe caught and drove and Charlie Edwards kicked to touch getting a Dorking deflection on the way. Another catch and drive and Charlie Edwards darted over between the posts. James Cameron added the conversion, 10 – 26 after 55 mins with Combe now in the ascendency. Dorking made a brief incursion into opposition territory and, after a Combe infringement from a mark, were awarded a series of attacking scrums. However, the Dorking scrum was creaking and Combe won a penalty for a ‘dropped scrum’. Combe then made progress to the Dorking line through a series of lines-out, penalties and kicks to touch. From one such line-out Combe attacked but were tackled in touch. However, they stole the Dorking line-out and spun the ball wide for Frankie Neale to score in the corner for his hat-trick, 10 – 31 on 65 mins. Dorking made one last effort to restore some pride and attacked from all angles but once again the Combe defence was impregnable and Dorking eventually knocked-on. Combe won the scrum and attacked through the centre and then right through the hands of Joe Bonner and Frankie Neale to Bradley Saffery who rounded the defence to score between the posts. 10 – 36 with 3 mins left on the clock and that’s how it ended.

Frankie Neale was my “man of the match” for his hat-trick of tries, line-kicking and a try-saving tackle. Another five point win maintains Combe’s 3rd place position. Next week Combe are at home to second placed Wimbledon, preceded by a supporters lunch.

Westcombe Park XV: F. Neale, M. Roddick, A. Hitchcock, D. Bonner, B. Saffery, J. Cameron, J. Munton, R. Conlon, J. Bonner, J. Forsyth, T. Clarke, T. Christopher, M. Davey, S. Dixon, A. Campbell. Subs : C. Edwards (40), D. Fox (40), L. Covington (40).

Match Reporter - Franklin Pastry