Combe get best of Barnes in basement battle - just.

Combe finished winners in this encounter away at fellow league strugglers Barnes, but were not entirely convincing, they left it late, and furthermore if the hosts had had any success in kicking their shots at goal the result could have been quite different. As it was Barnes ran in four tries and so picked up a second bonus point, so Combe’s win was a net gain of two points for the league.

Perhaps expectations were too high after last week’s performance against league leaders Richmond, or perhaps Combe still find it difficult to break down a stubborn and organised defence. Perhaps also Combe put pressure on themselves, whether it be lapses in concentration when defending, or being error prone. It was a pretty dour and dogged affair, unfitting for a fine sunny autumn day with only a gentle breeze blowing across the pitch. Not much to entertain the sparse crowd, but just enough to keep them all on tenterhooks right up to the final whistle, as the result could still have gone either way.

Not much happened in the opening exchanges in the first quarter. It was reasonably lively, but both sides were guilty of errors and mistakes, perhaps over-anxious, certainly nervous. The penalty count was rattling up already. Then Barnes picked up on a loose ball midfield and made for the Combe line. From the ensuing ruck full back Warren Gower was in at the left hand corner. The try went unconverted. On thirty minutes Combe had a penalty in front of the posts after approach work by Dale Bellinger. Luke Giles duly obliged. (3-5). And before half time Barnes had a second try following a penalty, line-out and drive to the line, Givens the scorer. The conversion glanced the post, but was deemed to have failed. 10-3 at half time.

The breeze picked up for the second half, and Giles began to find his range kicking from hand to set up position in the Barnes half. With barely five minutes gone from a Combe line out on the 22, the ball was spun out. With a long pass Gideon Roux found Ben Hough who put in Kieran Leeper at the right hand corner. Giles’s conversion attempt hit the post.10- 8 and Combe were back in the game, indeed they took a slender lead when Giles kicked a second penalty. That lead did not last long. Although with one man short, having been yellow carded, Barnes scored two more tries. Right winger Butler went over having made good use of an overlap. The conversion attempt was charged down. Then Williams-Davis crossed after Barnes were allowed space down the touchline. The conversion attempt failed - again. Barnes ahead 20-11 going into the final quarter.

Combe hit back. From a scrum outside the Barnes 22, Roux broke and made good ground before releasing Tom Hockedy to scamper in and around towards the posts. Giles added the extras. Five minutes to go, and Giles hits his third penalty, and shortly after his fourth . 20-24 to the visitors. Combe hung on, although in a nervous finish they were fortunate that they did not have to defend a line-out on their own line as Barnes with their last throw threw ’not straight’. That and their failed conversion attempts now took on particular significance. Time had run out, and Combe were mightily relieved to emerge the winners. Four league points for Combe, and two bonus points some reward for Barnes.

Westcombe Park XV : O’Neill; Foster, Roux, Hough, Leeper; Giles, Edwards; Mitchell, Fry, Bellinger, Wright, Coles, Blomfield, Barton, Catlin.
Sub.s : Rainford, Clarke, Wallis, Davies, Hockedy.

Next Saturday, November 5th, Combe are at home to Hertford, with a kick-ff at 2.00 pm.

Match reporter - Bruce Mackenzie.