Goddington Dene saw yet another high scoring encounter between these two sides to start the 24/25 season following a 34 -34 draw in last campaign's match. Combe edged the win despite huge Bury pressure at the end with a series of close contact phases and penalties near the home side's line culminating in the ball being held up to herald the final whistle.

BSE dominated the opening exchanges and well deserved their opening try after 8 minutes from a great line out move finished with a fine angled run from the right wing.

Straight from the re-start , Nick Cook replied for the home side with a typical charge from his own half breaking several tackles. Stand off Nathan Wyman added the conversion to make it 7-7. Wyman then added a penalty following a high tackle. Combe were down a player and, when Bury pinched Combe line out ball, retook the lead exploiting a huge overlap as the Combe defence tried in vain to get back in position. But Combe finished the half in the lead after a couple of line-out catch and drives when prop Sam Kenny plunged over at close quarters for a try converted by Toby Wallace. 17-14 at the half time whistle.

Combe extended their lead in the second period with a Wallace try following an excellent Raf Dutta catch at the lineout. With Wyman off injured, Wallace struck a fine conversion to make it 24-14. That lead was added to when, after a series of offloads between forwards and backs, replacement scrum half scrum half Ben Fryatt dotted down to send Combe clear at 29-14 and a precious bonus point.

The game now entered the final quarter but Bury didn’t buckle and two tries in the last 10 minutes made the Combe supporters’ nerves jangle. Bury battered Combe's line and got over in the corner and the difficult conversion kick went wide. 5 minutes later, and following a similar period of intense try line pressure, Bury scored in the same spot and with the conversion missed the score was 29-24. From the re-start Bury again kept the pressure on Combe's line and when the last attempt was whistled for held up the relief around the ground was palpable.

5 points for Combe and a well deserved couple for the visitors. Next week the team travel to Guernsey for what is always a tough encounter.

Player of the match: Tom Webster (3 try saving tackles!)