Westcombe Park made home advantage count with a 28-17 Goddington Dene success over Gravesend on Saturday, writes Mike Attewell.

Two tries in each half, combined with an immaculate kicking display, was enough to see off a gritty visiting Gravesend side, whose efforts gained scant reward.

Ryan Hackett scored the first try in the seventh minute and Gideon Roux the second 20 minutes later.

Iain Gordan converted the first from the touchline and the second from not much better with impressive kicks.

Despite two periods of pressure which gained them little, Gravesend had to settle for a simple penalty in the last action of the half.

Combe appeared to be in charge but the start of the second half quickly belied that.

Inside eight minutes of the restart, Tom Goss crossed at a melee and then George Montgomery added to his penalty but missed a kick two minutes later which would have brought Gravesend within a point.

The Orpington hosts responded to the wake-up call with a Lee Covington try, Gordan adding the points.

Another missed penalty damaged Gravesend’s prospects, but not as much as Combe’s bonus try - a perfectly weighted diagonal kick bouncing high for Ben Hannah to catch and close on the posts, the conversion a formality.

There were still 10 minutes remaining and it took all that time for Gravesend to get Dave Irvine over the line in the corner.

Montgomery converted with the last kick of the match, although it was scant consolation for the visitors.

Pictures below from our photographer Keith Gillard - KGtopsnapper on Twitter.

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Combe's fourth try

 

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Davies is challenged by a Gravesend defender

 

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Iain Gordan converts

 

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Gray bursts through