Rosslyn Park remorseless in their push for promotion

Rosslyn Park were remorseless and ruthless in their push for promotion against a Combe side who were probably still haunted by the hammering they had received at home last February. The home side were in festival, end of season party mood, pleased to prove and show off their class in front of a crowd of 650 or so, whilst for Combe the end of the season cannot come soon enough. The gulf between the top of the table and the nether regions was brutally exposed. Only fitfully could Combe try and show otherwise. Combe had not had a game for two weeks. Rosslyn Park surprisingly had slipped up the previous week. The visitors might feel the backlash.
Instead of the ashen skies that had been predicted, it was a warm, bright day, with plenty of sunshine, barbecues, Pimms, shorts and t-shirts. Rosslyn Park started at the gallop - six tries in 26 minutes, all converted. The first, on 2 minutes, came from a line-out and short inside ball for the prop Collier to cruise through to the line, with the suggestion of a side step. Combe suffered a cruel blow with Inches off with what looked like a bad ankle injury. Not a good start. The second try was a 80m run by the winger Strong, outstripping the Combe defence down the right hand touchline. The third came from more patient play through several phases, for O’Driscoll to score. Likewise the fourth try for Strong, again, in the corner, was after speedy build-up and mistake-free recycling. Rosslyn Park were playing with confidence, pace, weight and numbers. There was no respite. Try number five came from a long run to the Combe corner where after the saving tackle the ball was moved for Sweeney to score by the posts. Try number six was a bit different coming from a forwards’ drive to the line, hooker Ritchie getting the score. Just beforehand Abbott had been yellow carded. The end of the first half was more of a contest. Combe crawled their way into the Rosslyn Park 22, and when the defenders offended Audis slotted his kick for some points on the board. 42-3. The Rosslyn Park second row, Quigley was yellow carded, and Combe enjoyed a brief passage of some good scrums, and good runs, for example by Audis and Chance, neither of which unfortunately came to anything. But the scoreboard had been still for 10 minutes.
The second half again was started at the gallop, Rosslyn Park scoring through O’Driscoll on 3 minutes, and converted. 49-3. But to their credit Combe took their opportunity when it came, on 6 minutes, from a line-out close to the Rosslyn Park line and a drive by the forwards for Abbott to claim the score, which Audis converted. 49-10. Immediately afterwards Rosslyn Park had an interception try, for Sweeney, under the posts. Laidlaw made his eighth conversion, and his work for the day was finished. 56-10. More substitutions for both sides followed. A Rosslyn Park attack was stopped short of Combe’s line, and Sole made the turnover. Combe had a break out from behind their line by Boto, carried on by Thorpe and Purdy, but this was eventually swallowed up on the Rosslyn Park 22. More substitutions. On 26 minutes a midfield penalty for Combe was run and Booiman put Davis away for a scamper down the right hand touch and a well deserved try, which Audis converted. 56-15. More substitutions. Rosslyn Park scored again through Barr after a run by the No. 8. Not converted. 61-15. With still ten minutes to go, Thorpe was off, also with what looked like a bad ankle injury, after he had covered back to stop another Rosslyn Park attack. Combe could not bring on any more substitutes, as the last one had been tactically subbed himself already. The last few minutes were played out with Combe resisting pressure for much of the time only to concede one last try from an angled run, inside pass and an American football style touch down for Sweeney‘s hat trick. Converted 68-15. Final whistle. Rosslyn Park could carry on their party. Combe had been on the end of a battering, but results from across the other side of the river might bring some comfort……
Westcombe Park XV: Weald; Lewis, Purdy, Booiman, Boto; Harvey, Audis: Green, Brooks, Kavanagh; Chance, Thorpe; Sole, Abbott, Inches.
Substitutes used: Threlfell, Catlin, Davies, Southcombe, Cooke.
Next up, 24th April is a home game at Goddington Dene, versus Henley, kick-off 3 pm, preceded by the Old Crocks’ Lunch.

Match reporter: Bruce Mackenzie.