That Barnes had only been beaten by the three teams above them in the League underlined that this would be a tough ask for Westcombe Park. The six tries the home side ran in confirmed that this was indeed the case.

Barnes had three tries in the bag by half-time despite the Goddington Dene side having the best of the opening phases but were unable to get the vital score. The first home side try came on 8 minutes after concerted pressure in the Combe 22 followed by a second score on 23 minutes on the back of some neatly constructed phase play. A solo effort from the Barnes half put clear water between the sides at 19-0. The visitors were looking at being held scoreless in the first half but a good line out drive finished off by Elliott Roofe meant that Combe got on the board just as the half came to an end. The conversion by Nathan Wyman made it 19-7.

Combe were under the cosh for the first 10 minutes of the second period defending heartily. But Barnes extended the gap with a line out drive and score of their own to make it 24-7. Westcombe Park hit back when Antoine Kiri Kiri dotted down after a penetrating run by Callum Harris. The final 15 minutes belonged to the home side as they notched a couple of more tries, scoring from a scrum in the Combe 22 and then right on the final whistle when the visiting defence could not hold out after a period of sustained Barnes’ pressure.

A challenging day for Westcombe Park and there is the opportunity to make amends this coming Saturday against old rivals Sevenoaks who will be out for revenge to atone for last season's pair of losing encounters.