Visitors Old Albanians had the best of a competitive first half at Goddington Dene. 10 minutes in OAs winger Gregory Lound touched down after being put in by his centre partner. Sam Jones slotted the conversion to make it 0-7. Combe’s openside Harry Hudson struck back for Combe as the second quarter started after controlled phase play in the visitors’ 22. Nathan Wyman kicked the conversion to level the scores.

OAs re-took the lead after a storming run from own their open side with Ponsford breaking tackles to put centre Tom Bailey in for the try which he converted. Immediately after the restart the visitors moved further ahead when Bailey returned the compliments breaking tackles to put his teammate Toby Ponsford in for the try. The conversion was missed but OAs had opened a gap. As the half drew to a close.

At 7-19 it was vital that Combe scored next and a line out drive finished by hooker Taine Wagstaff brought the home team into striking distance at 14-19. Then Dan Shergold put Ben Fryatt in to give Combe the lead after 54 minutes. 21-19 to WPRFC.

That narrow lead advanced when Westcombe’s centre Kyan Braithwaite scored to make it 24-19. But as the clock ticked down Old Albanians hit back with a rumble through the Combe defence. Lacey Mitchell scoring making it a tight 28-24 scoreline.

But Westcombe Park eased their supporters’ nerves when Prop Elliott Roofe finished a lineout drive in corner to secure the hard-fought victory. 5 points for WPRFC and a couple of bonus points for the visitors meant that the trip back to St Albans wasn’t empty handed. Combe now sit in a very creditable eighth place in the league and next week-end travel to sixth placed Bury St Edmunds for what will be a tough encounter.