Combe have hit a rough patch, going down this week at the hands of visitors London Irish Wild Geese, who are now firmly established as the league leaders, writes Bruce Mackenzie.

There was not always a lot in it, but London Irish capitalised on Combe mistakes and made them pay as the home side gave away too many penalties, and were unable to unravel the visitors’ defence.

At half-time it was 7-16 to the visitors with tries from John Davetanivalu and Fraser Carlisle, and two penalties from Liam Prescott.

Combe’s Hamish Barton crossed for a try, converted by Ben Hough.

Prescott and Hough traded penalties after the re-start and for a while it was stalemate until with 10 minutes to go Irish full-back Peter Hodgkinson pinched an interception, Prescott converted, and immediately after Hodgkinson added a drop goal to seal the result.

In the dying minutes Combe’s Ed Lang and Trent Nattrass crossed for two late tries to add some respectability to the final scoreline , but it was not enough, not even for a bonus point.

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