I suppose it is a bit of a cliché to say defence wins games, but the sterling efforts of Sevenoaks in the last 10 minutes of this tightly contested local derby underline why cliches are more often accurate than not. Sevenoaks have been on a bit of a roll over the past months but Combe had been enjoying an unbeaten run of their own so a close match was keenly anticipated by a good sized crowd with a fair few making the trip up from Sevenoaks.
The Goddington Dene side had the kind of start they would have chosen. With 4 minutes on the clock Combe had kept hold of the ball and worked their way into the red zone. The visitors were caught offside in front of the posts and the returning Cameron Hancock slotted the kick in blustery conditions. The lead lasted all of 4 minutes when Sevenoaks standoff Pellegrini released his backline for Fotheringham to put Short in for the score. The try was converted by Ben Adams.
Combe re-took the lead almost straight from the re-start when Combe man of the match Josh Smith charged down a clearance kick and then got the required downward pressure for the score. Hancock converted to make it 10-7 to Combe. Honours were even in terms of possession and territory for the next 15 minutes until an alert Matt Harrison intercepted on the half-way line and ran in to score under the posts. At 17-7 there was the first hint of daylight between the teams. That chink of light was partly obscured when Sevenoaks' Pellegrini got through some heavy traffic to score for a try which was converted to leave the score 17-14 at the end of the first period.
The visitors now had the benefit of the wind and with 10 minutes of the half gone, Combe were pinned back by a long clearance kick and forced to kick from their goal line. A couple of scrums later and the home-side were penalised, and the successful kick brought the scores level. The match was living up to the pre-match billing with neither side giving any quarter. Defences on both sides were proving difficult to penetrate and ultimately it was defensive pressure which produced the next score.
With 66 minutes gone Combe failed to cleanly execute in the centre of the field and Adams was on hand to pick up and run in for the try which was duly converted. 17-24 in favour of Sevenoaks. Combe hit back straight away winning a penalty at the restart. This was kicked to the corner and after a catch and drive Combe centre Harrison was on hand to chalk up his second of the game.
And then came that 10 minutes of stout defence from the visitors and patient, coordinated attacking from the Goddington Dene team. In their last attacking set Combe put together at least a dozen phases but were unable to find the key to unlock the second meanest defence in the league.
Another hugely enjoyable close encounter at Goddington Dene with both sides’ defences showing skill, physicality and concentration in equal measure. A bonus point for Combe as they prepare to visit Maidenhead looking to return to winning ways.