OLD Elthamians came out on top in their derby meeting with Westcombe Park with a 20-8 victory on Saturday.

Visitors Westcombe Park played too little rugby on a mud-bath of a pitch and paid the price, as Elthamians coped with the conditions much better.

Most of the points were scored in the opening quarter of an hour before the pitch and the conditions worsened.

On three minutes full-back Tom White slotted a long-range effort to put Elthamians in front.

Combe full-back Joe Simpson finished off a classic three-quarters move a few minutes later but the conversion was narrowly missed.

Old Elthamians then had their own classic three-quarters move and winger Renford Bennett went in for the try which was converted by White.

And it was White who added a penalty two minutes later to give the hosts a telling 13-5 advantage.

There were to be no further scores until the very last action of the half.

Having established position on Combe’s line, Elthamians were awarded a converted penalty-try for a 20-5 interval lead.

Despite three times pick and driving powerfully for the line in the hosts’ 22 in the second half, all Combe had to show was a single Luke Giles penalty, the only score of the half against a resolute defence which held out to the end.

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