Combe enjoy Bishop's Stortford trip (From News Shopper)

Combe enjoy Bishop's Stortford trip

2:38pm Wednesday 9th January 2013 in Rugby

WESTCOMBE Park returned home with a 20-7 victory at Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday.

Four missed penalties, two if which hit posts, did nothing to help Stortford’s attempt to curb Combe in a closely fought game between third and fourth in National League Three London & SE.

Six minutes before the break Combe had a lineout on the five metre line, the clean take and drive at pace saw them cross the line before the maul was hauled to the ground and the referee heading for the posts for the penalty try.

Luke Giles converted.

Both sides had penalties late in the first half – Stortford’s hit a post and stayed out and Giles’ from a distance sailed through the middle.

The 10-0 lead at the break became a gulf early on when Combe flung the ball wide and a reverse pass into the eager hands of Niki Davies saw him crash for the line.

Giles again converted.

Stortford’s lack of ball led to frustration and it all boiled over at the start of the last quarter with red cards reducing the game to 14-a-side and a distracted Combe let second-row Hamish Irving in for a try.

Despite being out on the touchline, Tom Coleman’s magnificent kick secured the conversion.

The rest of the game was tight with Combe confining play to centre field with competent tackling and another Giles penalty to safely secure the points.

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