Henley enjoy Goddington Dene trip (From News Shopper)

Westcombe Park 24-41 Henley

5:07pm Monday 23rd January 2012 in Rugby

WESTCOMBE Park were beaten at home by Henley on Saturday.

The mayor of Bromley David McBride was guest of honour at Goddington Dene and witnessed a fine game of rugby played in good spirits and no cards to spoil the balance.

In a match where Henley scored six tries and Combe only two, it would appear to be a bit one-sided but fly-half Luke Giles, with another near-immaculate display with the boot, kept Combe in front to the last minute of the first-half.

Centre Alex Chessman had scored a try in the corner for Henley in the opening minutes but Giles’ kicks soon put Combe back in the lead.

The one kick he missed hit the post and bounced back in play, but Combe were quick to clear their lines.

A Henley penalty put them to within a point of Combe at the end of the first quarter but midway through the second another Giles’ penalty gave Combe a four point lead.

That's how it stayed until the last minute when, having been mounting pressure for some time, Henley were awarded a penalty try which fly-half James Comben inevitably converted to give his side a 15-13 lead at the interval.

Early in the second half Comben opened the first clear water between the sides with a try and conversion.

But this was quickly reduced with a powerful forward move from the Combe pack and after a couple of false starts, prop Dale Bellinger crossed the line.

The score remained at 17-22 for a while before No. 8 Will Woodward, at the back of a maul that shunted Combe's defence back several yards, got the touchdown and the conversion was added to give Henley a 12-point lead near the hour mark.

Westcombe Park's No. 8 George Blomfield scored Combe's second try and with the Giles conversion, the hosts were back to being just five points adrift midway through the last quarter.

However, for the third week running Combe crumbled in the last few minutes and conceded two very late tries.

Comben converted his second and substitute centre Dan Wells added another.

Thais spell of a late points rush gave the scoreline an imbalance Westcombe Park hardly merited.

Follow us on Twitter @NewsShopperSprt