North Combe Down 2nds 19 – 15 Westbury – Dorset & Wilts 2, Sat. 10th September

Westbury started this season’s league fixtures with a trip to Bath to play Combe Down; always a tough fixture, as it again proved to be.

In the first half the sides could not be separated; with both sides playing expansive rugby the entertainment value was high but neither team could open the scoring, leaving the scoreboard blank at half time.

Combe Down started the second half with the advantage of the slope and were keen to open the scoring but it was from a Westbury mistake that they capitalised, when a loose pass was thrown and the ball went to ground, a Combe Down player scooped up the ball and from 30 metres outstripped the defence to score under the posts.  The conversion was successful.

Combe Down’s second try came from a clever cross-field kick which picked out the right wing who left his opposite number standing and scored in the corner. This time the extra points were missed.

From the restart the home side kicked the ball deep into the Westbury half. Full back Nigel Kershaw gathered the ball and set off on a scything run, brushing defenders aside, carried the ball into the Combe Down 22 meter area and offloaded to supporting flanker, Ash Commins, who powered his way over the try line. The conversion was missed.

Buoyed up by this score Westbury upped their game,  throwing everything at the Combe Down defence and were rewarded with a try late in the second half.

With the forwards driving towards the try line replacement, Tom Redman made the final yards to touch down.  Unfortunately again the kick was missed.

Combe Down scored their final try in injury time from a lineout in the Westbury half. They moved the ball to the centres and, with the Westbury defence guilty of some missed tackles, were able to score a converted try.

19 – 10 with time nearly gone, Westbury launched an attack into the home side’s 22 and veteran No.8, Chris Gillam, had the final say when he barrelled over the try line to score.  Again the conversion was missed.

Final score 19 – 15.

Westbury showed great character to fight back and get a losing bonus point when all looked lost. Several players stood out for Westbury but debutant flanker, Ryan Knight, was excellent.  All in all, coach Chris Bush was pleased with the performance, albeit a loss.

Paul Couzens