Two games, two wins, two bonus points and three points clear at the top of the table underline what a good start Westcombe Park have made to the season. That they didn’t make such a start to this game at Goddington Dene was down to an alert and precise attack from visitors Sudbury RFC. From a quick tap penalty conceded by Combe for an illegal entry at the breakdown, Sudbury’s number eight Cowling made deep inroads into Combe territory and the offload to his scrum half Beckett resulted in a score under the posts after just a couple of minutes. The try was converted.

Combe quickly made amends two minutes later with player of the match KK Orelaja making a rumbustious run, breaking the gainline and passing to fullback Toby Wallace who touched down wide on the right. Jacob Buckley’s kick hit a post, so Sudbury retained the lead at 5-7.

Sudbury maintained a good level of pressure with their midfield axis performing well. It took until the 30th minute before Combe edged in front. Good line out ball on the fringes of the Sudbury 22 was fed to Matt Harrison who jinked in for the first of his two tries and with Buckley securing the conversion Come were 12-7 in the lead. That lead was extended on the cusp of half time when Orelaja made his second significant break in midfield and, this time, fellow centre James Burton was the beneficiary scoring close to the posts. The Buckley conversion made the interval scoreline 19-7 in favour of the home team.

Ten minutes of the second half had passed when Combe scored their bonus point try, standoff Harrison claiming his second after good pressure from the home defence forced a turnover. Buckley got the conversion. Then the forwards got in on the scoring act for the first time this season as lock Sam Fombo scored a first try for the club finishing of a lineout catch and drive. Again, Buckley converted to make it 33-7 for Combe.

On the 70th minute, replacement Bradley Bateup scored Combe’s sixth try out wide and although Buckley hit the post for the second time a scoreline of 38-7 made it look as if it was match over. However, Sudbury had other thoughts and, electing to go for a series of tap penalties rather than kick for territory, they scored three tries in the final eight minutes to secure their own try bonus point and take a wee bit of the shine off Combe’s victory.

All in all a good game of Rugby for the first home match of the season as well as another encouraging result for Combe supporters. The four try bonus would help make the journey back to Suffolk that bit easier for Sudbury.

Next week Combe renew our rivalry with Medway after a break of a couple of seasons and it would be good to see a good level of Combe support.