Combe come a cropper at Camberley.

With the last play of the game hosts Camberley won a penalty, with the last kick of the game it was over. It was the first and only time in the match they were ahead. The home team and supporters naturally were jubilant, Combe and the travelling support dumbfounded. Yet at half time the comment on the rails was ‘not enough points in front’ and going into the last quarter changing to ‘we’re going to lose this’ as Camberley had all the momentum with them. Combe showed they could score classic tries but also their vulnerability in the line-out and defending short-range.

Camberley had won the first fixture earlier in the season and were keen to repeat the performance. Combe at the top of the league table were a target. On a damp and misty afternoon it was Combe who got off to a flying start with Max Wilkins bursting through for a try by the posts, converted by Harvey Young, followed shortly after by a penalty from Young to put Combe 0-10 up after ten minutes. The pitch may have been a bit stodgy underfoot but Combe looked dangerous running the ball, searching for gaps. Combe survived for a while a series of line-outs and drives in the corner and close to the try line until Camberley spun the ball right to put winger Josh Lewanituva in at the corner. Try converted. It was all pretty close quarter stuff, with Piers Johnson prominent defending or going forward. Indeed it was his effort that brought Combe their second try with Dan Hamilton put into space to go over at the corner and round towards the posts. Try converted, 7-17. Camberley just had time before the half-time whistle to slot a penalty for 10-17 at the break. Combe in front but not by a convincing margin. The scrum was just holding up, the line-out was not working well and it would help if the penalty count was reduced.

The second half started with a penalty for Combe, put over by Harvey Young for 10-20, followed by a classic Combe try. Matt Harrison started it, fielding in his own 22 from the re-start, and with Max Wilkins and George Perkins in support Matt Harrison was on hand and clear through to finish the move. Try converted, 10-27, with over half an hour to go. A healthier lead now for Combe, but Camberley were still in the hunt. A line-out in the left corner and a drive and rumble produced a second try, converted. 17-27. Twenty minutes on the clock. A penalty miss by Combe, now with a man advantage, but it is the hosts who score next, again from a line-out, drive and rumble. 22-27. With ten minutes left Harvey Young slots a penalty for Combe to improve the lead to 22-30. Camberley will need two scores. They get one, again a short range effort with conversion to narrow the score to 29-30. Less than five minutes to go. Down the other end Dan Hamilton comes close in the corner, Harvey Young close in the other corner. Camberley hold out and break out, and in the dying minutes win a penalty that for Tom Dunn is quite kickable, enough to take the lead and win the game. What a way to finish!

Next week, 1st February, Combe are at home to locals Beckenham kick-off 2.00pm. There is Six Nations action on the television, and again on Sunday.

Westcombe Park XV: M. Harrison; G. Perkins, H. Sansbury, M. Wilkins, D. Hamilton; H. Young, L. Headland; J. Simmons, J. Dehaarte, T. Simmons, C. O’Sullivan, G. Brett, A. Devane, S. Beckett, P. Johnson.

Bench: L. Murphy-Wooldridge, G. Milligan, J. Medcraft.

Match reporter – Bruce Mackenzie