WESTCOMBE Park were left disappointed this weekend after their close run game resulted in a win for hosts Shelford.

It was a nervous start for both teams but Combe took the lead early on with a speculative kick, chase, collect and dot down by fly half Kieren Leeper.

Luke Giles converted and added a penalty soon after to give his team a 10 point lead over the home side after just 10 minutes.

Neither side looked like breaking down their opponent’s defences thereafter and went in with a score of 6-13 at half time following two penalties for Shelford from the boot of Ed Gough.

After a messy second half kick-off, Shelford capitalised with a try from Jay Williams closely followed by Ed Gough’s third penalty of the game.

The visitors responded by pressing the Shelford line, coming away with a try from second row Jon Wright.

The match remained tight at 14-18 for the next 20 minutes but, with just minutes left on the clock, Redmond Newberry was driven over from close range, quickly followed by a George Perry try after pouncing on a Combe mistake and Gough converting both, the away side were playing catch up with the score at 28-18.

Combe, chasing for at least a bonus point, came back with a try and conversion by Giles, reducing the deficit to just three points.

But Shelford kept the pressure up until the end and a Williams’ try meant with the final score at 33-25, the home team snatched both the win and five league points.

Combe for all their efforts may have come close, but will be more than disappointed to have missed out.

Bruce Mackenzie