In season 2021-22 Combe were beaten twice in last gasp efforts by the South Coast side. But this time it was the Goddington Dene side that put promoted Havant to the sword at the death. And to add a further twist, my stats guru tells me this was a first win at Hooks Lane since way back in 2002.

Westcombe Park started with a blast and were on the scoreboard with a fine try after only three minutes. Raf Dutta won clean lineout ball and the Combe midfield surged over the gainline. Flanker Antonio Kiri Kiri then burst through the centre and the backs were in close support. Sam Rhodes finishing the move with a try converted by Toby Wallace.

Havant crossed the line and claimed the score but the officials had spotted an offence in the line-out drive and chalked the try off. Combe then went further ahead after 23 minutes with Kiri Kiri scoring himself at the back of a controlled line-out drive. The conversion was missed. Havant had their own scoring opportunities in that first half but elected to kick to the corner rather than take the points. Combe’s defence held firm and the half ended 12-0 to the visitors.

Early in the second period Combe went down to 14 players, a yellow card the inevitable result of a culmination of technical offences in the danger zone. From the ensuing penalty Havant drove the lineout over the line for the try which was converted to make it 7-12. The yellow card became even more costly when the home side scored a second with a jinking run through the heart of the Combe defence. The try was converted to edge Havant in front for the first time at 14-12.

Combe re-took the lead on 54 minutes when the heavyweights in the pack showed their handling skills. Hugo McPherson made ground and passed to prop Sam Kenny who offloaded to flanker Harry Hudson who touched down. The Wallace conversion made it 14-19.

For the following 15 minutes Combe could only repel a whole series of Havant attacks by nefarious means and the home side re-took the lead with a trio of penalties. With five minutes left on the clock, and with the score standing at 23-19, Combe were close to suffering those same old losing blues against the Hooks Lane outfit. But it was not to be. A dominant Combe scrum in the closing minutes provided the opportunity for replacement Callum Harris to dot down under the posts The Wallace conversion made it 23-26.

Bu there was still time to be added on and Combe supporters’ hearts were all aflutter when Havant had a penalty attempt deep in overtime. But the ball slid narrowly wide and Combe were the victors in a match which could have gone either way.

A hard-fought game as is the norm between these two sides and on the back of the win Westcombe Park move to fourth in the league. Combe renew acquaintance with promoted Oxford Harlequins at Goddington Dene this coming Saturday looking to build on a good start to the season.