Westcombe Park RFC 41-19 Belsize Park RFC

The final score of 41-19 for the Goddington Dene side belies the fact that Belsize Park gave the home team a couple of scares drawing level on two occasions. The visitors had done Combe a favour the previous week beating Camberley at their own ground to leave Combe top of the league so there was no room for any complacency for the North London side's first visit to Westcombe Park.

Combe nearly took the lead after 2 minutes when winning a scrum penalty in kicking range but the gusting wind meant the kick was missed. Centre Bradley Saffrey was looking eager and had one charging run which gobbled up the metres but the move ended when Dan Hamilton was bundled into touch. Saffrey went one better on the18 minute mark. Stand-off Harrison started the move about 30 metres out and made good ground before feeding Saffrey to run in Combe's first score. Harrison then converted for a 7-0 lead.

But then came one of those scares. The re-start was missed and the ball bounced kindly for Belsize to run in an unopposed score under the posts which was converted. Six minutes later the Combe lead was restored. Harrison conjured a neat inside out move in the Belsize red zone and crossed for the try. He then consummately slotted a difficult conversion.

Belsize Park came back well and, when a Combe attack broke down, the ball was kicked through and only a fine sliding save over the try line by Hamilton prevented a score. However that score was not long in coming as Belsize Park made the most of the resulting 5m scrum winning good ball and crossing the line out wide after a couple of thrusts from their pack. The conversion was missed.

Renford Bennett extended the lead to 19-12 with 5 minutes of the half to go. Harrison made a great break from his own 22, timed his pass to Bennett well to give him the space to run. The winger had still a lot to do from 50 metres out but showed a good turn of pace coupled with a deceptive swerve to score wide out on the left. The conversion was missed leaving the half time score 19-12 for the home side.

The second scare came 5 minutes into the second period. Belsize Park won a scrum penalty against a Combe pack who had had a clear edge in this department in the first half. The visitors went through the phases and scored out on the left. The conversion was needed to bring the scores level and it duly went over with the help of a post. 19-19.

With 35 minutes left to play Combe needed to convert the edge they had in possession into points. The homeside's handling skills were also markedly better than the visitors who dropped a few balls in the wet conditions. Finally Combe's fringe defence was as stout as ever with the Simmons boys to the fore.

That Westcombe Park ran in 3 unanswered tries in the final 30 minutes to secure the win is a testament to both their temperament and skills. Bennet scored his second from a steady Combe scrum and fine feed from Max Wilkins. Saffrey also got his second and Combe's bonus point try when a slick move in the 22 included a flicked on pass from Harrison. And finally Joel Medcraft beat three defenders with apparent ease to score Combe's final try following stout work from Beckett and a fine pick up from Harrison. In between Harrison had kicked a penalty and added a couple of conversion to bring his tally for the day to 16 and Combe's to 41.

Final score Westcombe Park RFC 41-19 Belsize Park RFC

So Combe remain top of the division and put in possibly their best performance of the season given the weather conditions and their opponents gutsy approach to the match. No games next Saturday but I understand there's a pretty big match on the other side of the world that some of you might be interested in. See you in the club house for what is hopefully a great day for English Rugby.

Match Report: John Vallely