COMBE AGAIN GO WEST ON TRIP TO GLOUCESTERSHIRE

It couldn't be expected that Combe would make the journey to National League Two (S) newcomers Hartpury College and come back with much, as the College have made a magnificent start to the season, but it would appear Combe again crumbled to defeat. The college ran in eight tries and converted five of them.
The set-up at Hartpury is not like the other clubs in this League, many and varied as it is! To start with its set in more than seven hundred acres and boasts more than rugby, fishing lakes and a deer park for starters and has a budget that would achieve Combe's plans a dozen times over and still have some change. Support appears to come from the student body and not much else and you need to go off campus to get a decent pint but I bet there's a common room that might serve a purpose if you could get access!
And so to the match, having had one of the best halves of rugby seen at Combe for sometime last week the defence melted away in the second half against more opposition from Gloucestershire and against Hartpury things appeared no better.
This, from a side that in the first few games, at the beginning of the season, looked like they would be able to hold their own if they got their noses in front.
Hartpury scored three tries in the opening quarter, when the casual observer would have thought Combe were the side on top such was the possession and territory, but looks can be deceptive and the observers from Combe are of a mind that a better outfit has yet to be seen. Big, strong and young seems to be the modus operandi at Hartpury.
Significantly the three tries against the run of play were by back-row Graeme Lawler and front-row Richard Barrington and only one from the “runners” fly-half Tim Stevenson who converted his own just before being replaced with an injury.
Ben Hough put Combe on the board with a penalty after twenty-five minutes, Combe's only score of the half.
In contrast Hartpury added two tries, in three minutes, both converted by full-back Graham Spiers. Barrington added his second and substitute fly-half Robert Dempsey scored minutes after coming on.
At half time the home side led 31—3.
A minute into the second half the lead was extended further with a try from winger Ryan Brend.
Three minutes later saw Combe's only contribution to the second half when Kieron Leeper crossed with Ben Hough adding the points.
Hartpury were to add two further tries both were converted by Spiers. The first was shortly after Combe's when the back row again got into the act with Robert Langley but the second took another twenty minutes coming and when it did it was the substitute fly-half again, Dempsey.
Hartpury College will march on but Combe, if we are going to avoid the pangs of last season, need to get their act together soon.

W.P. TEAM: Chris O'Neill; Kieran Leeper, Ben Hough, Nikki Davies, Mike Adeniya; Craig Chatley, Charles Edwards, (Joseph Simpson 59m.); Jordan Mitchell, Harry Fry, Dale Bellinger, (Ross Denton 59m.) Gavin Watkins, Tom Clarke, (Nick Coles 52m.) Hamish Barton, George Blomfield, Gavin Wallis, (Jon Wright, 40m.) (James Catlin, 69m.)

Match Reporter: Mike Attewell (in Absentia)