Considering the conditions, biting wind and a bit gooey, it was a surprisingly fast and open game with some good handling and entertaining rugby.
The first half saw Combe ease into a comfortable lead at the interval but threatening to do a Wales early in the second half, with Gravesend tenacious all the time.
Pressure from Gravesend at the beginning of the game gave Combe some uncomfortable moments but they soon weathered the storm and were soon making their own pressure with astute running by the backs and power from the forwards. It was this combination which led to the first try after seven minutes.
Having established position in the 22 the forwards ground away until back-row Ryan Hackett finished off in the corner. Ian Gordan converted with a superb kick to herald an afternoon of great kicking.
It took another 20 minutes before Combe scored again, during which Gravesend, despite some efforts, were never really able to pose a threat to the well disciplined defence in front of them though it was shredded down to the last ditch a couple of times but Niki Davies ensured each time it went no further.
When the try did come it was text book rugby. Showing great patience the pack established position around the 22 and when the ball was released the backs swept it the width of the field with Gideon Roux finishing off with a blazing run. Iain Gordon added the points.
Ten minutes left in the half and Gravesend used it to pound away at the Combe line time after time getting perilously close, within inches.
All they had to show for it was a George Montgomery penalty with the last kick of the half. Scant reward for their efforts.
At 14—3 Combe appeared to be cruising but wearing their second strip the second half had a certain deja vu and had a penalty been successful eight minutes in would have found themselves a mere point in front.
Gravesend started the second half not unlike the first but this time Combe were unable to turn things around and Tom Goss rounding the scrum made it look ridiculously easy to score the try. George Montgomery converted well but the penalty two minutes later from a much better spot was pulled wide.
Combe rode their luck and the wake-up call! They moved play much nearer to Gravesend's danger zone rather than their own and patiently defended it for ten minutes while the fire went out in the Gravesend boiler room. A slight turn of the screw and Lee Covington went over with Iain Gordon again adding the points for a 21—10 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Gravesend had an ambitious chance of another penalty but basically Combe carried on as before and with six minutes remaining Iain Gordon perfectly weighted a diagonal kick behind the Gravesend defence and Ben Hannah leapt to retrieve the ball on the first bounce and close on the posts in the in-goal area. It was the easiest of Iain Gordon's conversions.
Gravesend rekindled the boilers, probably incensed by a 28—10 scoreline which little reflected their efforts, set siege to Combe's line and got their reward when Dave Irvine got over wide and George Montgomery, as in the first half, converted with the last kick of the match.

Director of Rugby Andy Foley said “Against a determined opposition, this was one of our best performances of the season. Defensively we were sound, and with the ball we displayed patience. I was very pleased to see the set piece work well against a large Gravesend pack. It was also pleasing to see Combe youngsters Hennah, Hackett and Birch put in strong performances, whilst Paul Humphries showed why he has a number of National 1 appearances on his CV. Due to injury there was a reshuffle and Iain Gordon was moved to 15, where he put in a faultless performance.
The 2nd XV also had a very good win against Dorking. Coach Simon Campbell has done a great job with this team of very talented youngsters. Although senior player Bryan Young bagged the MOM award for a strong performance at 12, young Frankie Reynolds again caught the eye at fly half, whilst county U20’s players Paddy Briggs and Josh Penney again put their hat in the ring for a regular 1st XV jersey.”

Combe Squad: Tom Gray; Niki Davies, Ben Hennah, Ben Hough, Joe Birch; Iain Gordon, Gideon Roux; Matt Poole, Hamish Barton, James Sheppard; Jon Wright, Dave Watkins; Ryan Hackett, Lee Covington, Matt Arvier. Reece Conlon, Richard Paddick, Paul Humphries.

Match Reporter: Mike Attewell.