It's Combe and Bury

9:59am Wednesday 5th September 2001

ON A bright sunny day, with little wind, a chip ahead from Old Colfeians was juggled and caught by Westcombe's flyhalf Derek Coats who ran in unopposed and converted his own try. (7-0).

And this set the tone for the game which saw Combe win 26-22.

The game started with OCs dominating possession and territory. During this period Matt Townsend kicked three penaltiesfo OC (9-7).

A further penalty for each side saw the half time score of 10-12.

But during a Combe incursion into OC territory, a fine inter-passing movement saw a try for Combe centre Lee Curlow which Coates converted.

Warren Evans scored a typical storming try for OCs in the 50th minute which Townsend converted.

With one of their locks in the sinbin for collapsing a maul, Coates kicked a penalty to restore Combe's lead at 20-19.

With play swinging from end to end, Townsend then put OC in the lead with a penalty to make it 22-20.

In the last 10 minutes, Combe's tactic of kicking for the corner bore fruit with two Coates' penalties closing the match at 26-22.

BECKENHAM played a team determined to make promotion this season, third time lucky. Canterbury, who won the league two years ago when there was no promotion and came second last year losing in the play-offs showed that they are again the class act in the league by winning 74-8.

They have made some shrewd signings in the summer, notably Corey Burt, a flyhalf from Wellington, who demonstrated he should be on the national league stage.

Omens were bad for Beckenham when their new fly-half, Darren Jordan, left the pitch with a hamstring injury after two minutes and after Canterbury's first try created and converted by Burt who took advantage of gaps in the Beckenham defence.

Things did not get better when the Canterbury winger handed-off Danaher's high tackle to score to make it 12.

Beckenham replied with a penalty from Brad Elsworthy but it was one-way traffic.

Explore News Shopper