That Tunbridge Wells scored all 15 of their points from penalty kicks tells two things; firstly, that they had their fair share of play, territory and pressure and secondly, that Westcombe Park’s defence held firm albeit with a bit of jiggery-pokery around the breakdown. A 7-9 scoreline at half-time for the visitors underlines the fact that Combe were in no sense having it their own way.

TWs were first on the scoreboard when WPRFC conceded a scrum penalty in easy kicking distance. The kick sailed over to give the visitors the first of their five penalties. Combe were quick to respond and put Tunbridge Wells under pressure in their own 22. There was a close quarter battle and player of the match Harry Hudson ploughed through for the first of his brace of tries. Jacob Buckley kicked the conversion. TWs kept the pressure on Combe, and a combination of resolute defence and attacking pressure, were rewarded with a couple of penalties on the 23-minute and 38-minute marks to leave TWs leading 9-7 at the break.

That is how the score remained until the 50th minute. Combe had increased the pressure on the TWs defence and centre KK Orelaja was on hand the benefit from an astute grubber kick to pounce on the ball out wide on the right for Combe’s second try. The conversion was missed.

Combe’s transgression at the re-start let Tunbridge Wells back in to level it at 12-12 with their fourth successful penalty of the game continuing to keep the home side at bay. The score remained level for only a couple of minutes when Hudson got his second after a good maul from Combe bundled towards the line and the flanker burst through the middle to score try number three. But TWs kept in touch with their fifth penalty after Combe strayed offside in front of their posts.

Combe’s scrum had settled and was beginning to exert some dominance. That dominance showed to telling effect with a pushover try after 70 minutes with number 8 Nick Cook dotting down for a try-bonus point score. The conversion from Buckley provided the first real daylight between the two sides. That chink became wider in the last couple of minutes when James Burton, filling in at scrum half, threw a good dummy to create the gap to go over for Combe’s fifth. Rob White’s conversion completed the scoring for a 31-15 win for the Goddington Dene team.

A gutsy performance from Tunbridge Wells which made Combe fight all the way for the win which leaves them sitting on top of the league. Westcombe Park will need to be on form for next Saturday’s trip to third placed Tring if they want to maintain their good start to the campaign