Either the home team played the conditions better, or were more fleet of foot, or both. There was standing water, the scrums were moved in the somewhat vain search for a firmer footing, the ball would not bounce, and it was difficult to stay upright, let alone hold onto the ball. Not a day for fast open rugby by two aspiring sides, more a day for attrition. At least the wind had died down….. a bit.
East Grinstead dominated the opening minutes. Combe without any ball were pegged back and did well for a while to withstand the assault on their line. But after a scrum under the posts and second phase, second row Matt Cook found a gap in Combe’s defences and was over for a try converted by out-half Scott Meakin. At the re-start Combe at last had their hands on the ball. They worked their way into the right corner but the follow up drive from the line-out was held. East Grinstead conceded a penalty which Joe Simpson put over, but otherwise Combe still had little possession to play with. At the same time East Grinstead with more of the ball were guilty themselves of making mistakes, and Combe when called on to defend were equal to the task, and stood firm. Scott Meakin knocked over another penalty for East Grinstead, and it was only with the half drawing to a close that Combe put some passages of play together. Too often though the half gap remained just that, and Combe could not get clean away from a watertight defence. A solitary penalty shot at goal was Combe’s only chance left to add to the score but this effort drifted wide of the upright and the first half finished with the hosts 10-3 ahead.

Combe were still in the game at the turn round. They drove from the line-out, had a spell in the opposition 22, but still no breakthrough. East Grinstead enjoyed similar results, but at least they had the advantage of being in front. The home crowd thought they were further ahead after a chip and chase to the posts only to be called back for offside. It was though one bit of play to get excited about. Except for Scott Meakin adding one more penalty the game was bogged down and heading for stalemate. But with five minutes to go East Grinstead outside the Combe 22 ran, chipped ahead and centre Adam Hinds was put in for a try in the left corner. No conversion, and with little time left, neither side looked like scoring again.

Next week Combe are home at Goddington Dene when Chichester are the visitors.

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

Match reporter - Bruce Mackenzie.