Combe bogged down in Barnes mudbath

.......and it was perishing cold.

Play was mainly between the two twenty-twos, and down the side by the line of trees. To top it up there was more rain as well. But it is still January, and we are still in winter.

The opening moments looked ominous for Combe as hosts Barnes showed their hand from the kick-off – play around the pack, get the shove on in the scrums and drive the mauls from the line-outs. But somehow Combe weathered the pressure, and cleared their lines. They even had a couple of counter attacks but this was not the day for holding onto passes, or streaking away from the cover defence. One such venture into the opposition half earned a penalty, midfield, which Iain Gordon put over. With thirty minutes gone, and having had less of the ball Combe were ahead, and could take a 3-0 lead in at half-time. They tried to build on the score, chipping to the corners, but had to make do with just the solitary score. As importantly they had denied Barnes any points. It was only a slim advantage to defend at the turnaround, but maybe not the day for a high-scoring game.

At the re-start the sun did come out briefly, but the drizzle and rain beforehand had done the damage. The glutinous mud slowed down both sides outsides, cold hands fumbled the ball whether in passing or at the line-out. It was becoming a mudbath slugfest. Barnes spent time on Combe’s 22. They still had the edge at the scrums, and sometimes held onto the line-out ball. They drove to the line but were held out, once, twice. There was perhaps an inevitability, when with one more effort of the same ploy the ‘started green but now brown pack’ was over for a forwards’ try, credited by some to Richard Dumbleton. It was near enough to the posts for full-back Will Alkin to stroke over the conversion and take the lead 7-3. There was still twenty-five minutes to go. Nikki Davies fielded the ball in his own half, kicked ahead and chased into the opposition 22, but Barnes recovered and the threat was thwarted. Combe won a penalty and kicked for touch in the hosts’ 22. At first held out. Then another line-out but again held. Combe were running out of chances and opportunities. Barnes took play to the other end but Combe survived, and cleared to the half-way, which was where it had all begun.

Next week Combe are home to locals Gravesend, kick-off 2.00pm. It promises to be a feast of rugby with Razor’s celebration game beforehand. And of course the Six Nations will have started.

Westcombe Park XV: K. Leeper; J. Birch, B. Hennah, B. Hough, N. Davies; I. Gordon, G. Roux; M. Poole, T. Lang, R. Conlon, J. Wright, M. Arvier, H. Barton, L. Covington, R. Hackett.
Subs: C. Lewis, P. Humphries.

Match reporter - Bruce Mackenzie.