Combe carry on with winning ways

Combe ran in four tries to two in reply, their backs had the edge over their opponents even if their forwards did not. It was another fine late summer day. With little wind to disturb, the only sounds above the referee’s whistle were the flocking rose-ringed parakeets.
Combe started hesitatingly, and were soon the wrong side of the penalty awards, which the visitors opted at first to kick at goal, but without success. Combe woke up. A break by centre John Leiataua saw the visitors defence unravel, Tom Gray was in support down the right side. Close to their line East Grinstead tried to scramble it away, but on the charge down Combe’s scrum half Jordan Davies collected and was over for the first score of the day with ten minutes gone. The conversion attempt drifted wide. Ten minutes later Tom Gray, carrying on from where he left off last week, gathered out wide, found Chris Lewis on half-way in support down the right touchline, inside to Hamish Barton who had a clear run to the line. Simple, quick and easy. Iain Gordon’s conversion was over and Combe went further ahead 12-0. Another penalty, this time in front of Combe’s posts was put over by East Grinstead’s Scott Meakin, but otherwise they were kept at bay by Combe’s stiff defence, which when not stifling the visitors, was forcing errors from them. Iain Gordon put over a penalty for Combe as the interval approached, but it was East Grinstead who finished the half with a flourish, their strong scrum near Combe’s line put the home side under pressure and it was tight head Ash Halsey who was pleased to claim the score. With the conversion by Meakin over it was only 15-10 the difference at the change round.

Come the re-start, Combe’s Jordan Davies was off, Tom Gray moved up to scrum half and Trent Nattrass was on. Combe withstood the initial onslaught from East Grinstead winning a turnover in front of their own posts. The pace of the game picked up. Iain Gordon found Ben Hough who found a big gap as the visitors’ defence shredded before him. It was a scoring pass to Trent Nattrass, near the half way so still with a lot to do, but he made it much to the delight of the home support. Iain Gordon added the conversion to take Combe 22-10 ahead. The call was for another try, not so much for the bonus point, but having established a good lead to keep and build on it. There was still half an hour to go, and the visitors were not done for. Indeed they came back to besiege the Combe line, with a series of dominant scrums, to which Combe ultimately succumbed. Penalty try, conversion. With the score now 22-17, the visitors were still in the game, but were undone when they fumbled at the re-start and conceded a kickable penalty for Iain Gordon. 25-17. Into the last quarter. East Grinstead’s backs could still find no way through. A penalty kick hit the upright, Combe were caught off side offering a second chance for Scott Meakin. 25-20. No let-up: big tackles, injuries, substitutes, yellow cards. Five minutes to go Combe’s penalty brought them close to the visitors’ line. Line out, and drive, urged on by the stand, dug-out and touchline, Lee Covington was at the back of the pack to touch down. The conversion attempt faded, but Combe had clawed back a two score advantage. It was enough to see them over the line in a frantic finish.

Next week Combe visit newly promoted Chichester, and themselves similarly undefeated at the start of the season. It should be a measure of how each side stands. Also it is far enough away to be a proper away fixture.

Westcombe Park XV: C. Stone; N. Davies, B. Hough, J. Leiataua, T. Gray; I. Gordon, J. Davies; M. Poole, H. Barton, J. Sheppard, D. Flashman, K. Coulter, C. Lewis, L. Covington, R. Paddick.
Sub.s: J. Snape, C. Buckler, T. Nattrass.

Match reporter: Bruce Mackenzie.