First half failure costs dearly

Neither team were out of the blocks at speed, but the home XV made the most of some poor defending as Hooker Hamish Barton crossed the line for a try.
Ian Gordon put the first of his quartet of conversions between the posts for an 7-0 after eleven minutes.
Gravesend competed well for the ball, and possibly had the greater share of possession, but a lack of variation as they chose to play the narrow game, often within five metres of the line, but there comes a time when the ability doesn't match the ambition.
It would seem at this point there is a need for those leading the team on the park to recognise this and let the three-quarters have the chance to take the play forward.
Westcombe Park are not a team to roll over to have their stomach rubbed, but one that showed they could attack from all areas with players going forward at pace, and defend with a deep resolve.
A second try on thirty minutes this time from the versatile Niki Davies who made his own room at pace to run past the otherwise tight defence, before touching down.
Gordon again added the extras from the tee to stretch the home advantage to 14-0.
It wasn't that Gravesend didn't have chances, as time and again they battered the home line, but once there, they were predictable and prone to giving away the penalty that allowed Combe to relieve their line.
George Montgomery slotted over the only opportunity he was given in the first forty to narrow the gap to 14-3 at the break.
Gsss looked to have come out after the interval with a better attitude and were quickly on the board as a fine cross kick by Montgomery found the arms of Tom Goss and the speedy winger was soon across the whitewash to touch-down.
Montgomery was successful with the conversion to narrow the difference to 14-10.
This now looked to be game on, a penalty chance went adrift as Montgomery sliced his kick across the posts but Gs were now truly in the hunt.
As the third quarter was coming to a close, descent could clearly be heard from the ranks of Gsss three-quarters, and this did not help their cause, and there were one or two outspoken voices that need to learn when to stay silent.
With this going on it was not surprising that Combe seized the opportunity to increase their lead as Lee Covington atoned for his yellow card absence of the first half, when he put the ball down for a score.
Gordon made it three from three as he added the conversion to take the scores to 21-10.
When the ball was moved to the visitors backs, there was a flatness in the line, where as Combe's line had some depth and was attacking at pace, but then they were getting quick ball, when the slow ball released by the Gsss pack allowed little room to develop the three's moves.
When there is a play maker in the middle, the last thing he needs is the loud mouthed varied and conflicting instructions from those who think they know better, and that is not from the touch line.
It was the speed of distribution from breakdown to backs that again led to Combe' scoring their fourth try of the afternoon, and again the support play that they showed for each other that led to Ben Hough getting his name on the score sheet and the eleventh try bonus of the campaign.
Gravesend came close to getting across the line on several occasions but the predictable play was met by a greater desire from the home XV to secure the win, and a resolute defence kept their line intact until the eightieth minute.
Gsss still playing the narrow game, trundling forward and going to ground, until at last Dave Irvine managed to get the ball down in goal. The last kick of the game saw Montgomery add the conversion for 28-17, but one can't help wondering if this was a game lost before it started.
Next week there is no 1st XV league fixture, but there is the chance to watch the England v Italy game at the club with a superb pie and mash lunch.