Westcombe Park and Shelford were both very aware of the importance of this game as the probable hinge of their season but there was little sign of any nerves and the conditions were as good as you could get for rugby.
The result was one of the most enthralling and competitive matches seen at Goddington Dene, in National League Two (South) of this season and several others as well, and left a lot of spectators and officials as exhausted as the players and some hadn’t moved from their spot all afternoon! Fraser Thomson was one such, despite his legendry experience in every aspect of First Team rugby.
Combe started brilliantly and it took two try-saving tackles to stop them opening a two-try gap and that was in the first five or six minutes. Shelford as you might expect were probably the more confident and worked their way back into the game and exerted a lot of pressure in the Combe 22.
Given the amount of this pressure it shouldn’t have surprised anyone but the two tries Shelford scored was not in the script and the fact that neither were converted was both decisive in the final analysis and perhaps the only sign of real nerves. Both sides had missed quite kickable penalties even before all this.
Shelford’s first try came following a penalty that gave them an attacking line-out on the 5-metre line and the resulting move across field dragged the Combe defence out of shape and the scrum-half Charles Baker finished the move he had started. The second was not dissimilar but it was the No.8 Aki Lea who stretched for the line this time.
Much of the pressure continued for the next ten minutes but Combe were easing their way out of difficulties just a little better and on 33 minutes there came seven minutes of quite remarkable rugby.
It started with a stand-off Luke Giles penalty wide on the left that was drilled through the posts. Three minutes later and centre John Coleman broke clear on the left and could have made the conversion easier but, unfazed, Luke Giles converted and Combe, from nowhere, were back on terms.
Three minutes later and it got even better when Tom Hockedy added to his impressive try count. The conversion gave Combe an interval lead 17—10 and much belief from spectators and players alike.
Shelford were shell-shocked and before they could get themselves together in the second-half Tom Hockedy had burst through for his second and Combe’s third try. Luke Giles narrowly failed to convert but Combe had a 22—10 lead and still half of the game to go with a win bonus point in the offering into the bargain.
Shelford now quickly pulled themselves together and we were back to pressure in the Combe half with just the occasional flurry to keep alive the forth - try option.
It was on the hour mark that Shelford scored their third try when centre Taniela Bakoso, with the try of the game, twisted and turned like a will o’ the wisp through the 22 and went over near the posts. The Dan Thomas conversion brought the sides to within five points of one another and now with 20 or 25 minutes left all the options were open and the tension rose accordingly.
For the committed spectators the minutes seemed like hours, not aided by the lack of oxygen, as everyone held their breath during anything that looked like a chance to add points for either side.
The clearest chance was a Shelford penalty that would normally be quite routine, but not in this cauldron and they shaved the post for the second time.
No-one quite knows how we got to the final whistle without another score or two but we did and Westcombe Park were the most relieved as their fight for survival continues.
This was a catch up game for both sides as Canterbury were not playing and the battle is now essentially between the three sides with Combe three points adrift of Canterbury and six from Shelford. Without knowledge of the run-in of the others Combe could well have their destiny in their own hands because apart from going to Shelford for the return they play Hinkley and Canterbury in the last game of the season in East Kent. But don’t hold your breath because the next three games are against high-flyers starting with Southend at Home on Saturday k.o.3p.m.

Combe’s Team: Toby May; Kieran Leeper, John Coleman (57m. Russ Tumath), Niki Davies, Tom Hockedy; Luke Giles, Charles Edwards; Ben McKinnell, Hamish Barton, Jordan Mitchell (76m. Tim Kavangh); Jon Wright, Tom Clarke; Reid Bradford (54m. Dean Sole), Zane Winslade, Gavin Wallis. Replacements: David Brooks and Paul Trendell.