Combe survive late and early scares on away trip to Tring

It was fairly dour at times but this was mainly due to winter conditions: cold, rain, soggy pitch, damp, cold. Tring scored early with more or less their first touch on the ball. Both sides went a man down, Tring’s was temporary, Combe’s man would be absent for the duration. Combe hit back and opened up a 22 point lead going into the last five minutes, only for this to be almost undone as Tring struck thrice and were only one score short at the finish. Combe do like flirting with danger.
Tring had first points on the board, after six minutes, with their first real touch on the ball – down the right, back inside and Michael Hicks picking up to go over. Scott Brown converted. Combe hit back with good, quick, slick hands, especially so given the conditions, and a gap opened for Trent Nattrass to streak in from half-way off his wing. Ben Hough converted. From the re-start a line-out became a melee, which became a fracas. Tring saw yellow, and Combe a red. Tring had two penalty shots at goal, but both missed. Stalemate for a while. With ten minutes to the interval Tring tried to run out of defence but with Combe applying pressure Tring fumbled and quick as a flash Trent Nattrass gathered and scampered in by the posts for his second. Ben Hough again converting. On the stroke of halftime Combe won a penalty in the left corner. The initial drive to the line was held, but at the second attempt Combe were over, with Luke Bellinger touching down. Good time to score. 19-7 up at the end of the first half was a good return for the hard work and re-grouping.
With Combe enjoying the slight advantage of the elements at the turn round, all they had to do was keep play in the Tring half down the clubhouse side. This they did. Indeed Combe were in the Tring 22 and camped on the line for ten minutes or so and countless phases of play. They won penalties in the corner as well but could not force a score. Ben Hennah came close on a straightened run, but Tring were holding fast. Combe’s pack were strong, even with one man short, and the pressure eventually told. Matt Arvier from a five-metre scrum was over. No conversion. Sensing this might have broken Tring’s resistance, Combe pushed Tring off their own ball, Hamish Barton came close, and then it was Bryan Young over for a try. No conversion, ten minutes to go and a healthy lead at 29-7. Perhaps they had peaked too early, or the hard work had taken its toll. Either way Tring seized opportunities in the last five minutes to retrieve something for themselves as Combe were rocked by three quick scores. Not a passage of play they would like to relive. First Tom Newton was in from short range, then Dan Peplow was free down the right. Combe lost another man and now with two short, and their defence somewhat ragged, Richard Roberts scored on the left. With seconds left on the clock Tring were now only one score short, but fortunately for Combe, level-headedness returned and they survived to the final whistle, much to the relief of the Combe support. Another bonus point win for Combe, two valuable bonus points for Tring.
It is now very crowded at the top of the league, and Combe next face their closest rivals. First it is East Grinstead away next week, and then on 17th January Combe are at home to Chichester. There is a supporters’ lunch before this fixture. See the web site for further details.

Westcombe Park XV: K. Leeper; T. Nattrass, B. Hennah, B. Hough, B. Young; J. Simpson, B. Faurie; M. Poole, H. Barton, R. Conlon, D. Bellinger, J. Wright, L. Bellinger, L. Covington, M. Arvier.
Subs: J. Sheppard, R. Paddick, E. Lang.

Match reporter – Bruce Mackenzie.