Combe in highest position

1:15pm Tuesday 20th November 2001

Westcombe Park defeated Barking for the first time in five games when the sides met in the National League 3 at Goddington Dene on Saturday.

Ben Thomas went over for an early uncoverted try, but Derek Coates soon added a penalty before Hayden O'Neill charge over for his side's second try.

This time Coates booted the conversion and another penalty put Combe 18-0 up at the break.

Stuart Anderson and Thomas were both sin-binned to leave Combe with only 13 men for 10 minutes, but Barking were uanble to make use of their numerical advantage.

Ironically, Combe were back to full strength when Hill scored Barking's only points, but the home side wrapped up a 28-5 win when Ben Smith went over and Coates converted.

This was Combe's third consecutive win and their fourth place in the table is their highest position since they entered in the National League in 1999.

This Saturday, Combe travel to Tabard for a league game and then on Sunday the visit Canterbury in the first round of Shepherd Neame Kent Cup.

Beckenham were cruising against Sevenoaks and racked up 25 first-half points and totally dominating a match. But they had a few scares before winning 25-18.

Brad Ellsworthy opened the scoring with two penalties, quickly followed up by two tries from Charles McLieveen and one from Ian Saunders.

Beckenham relaxed, perhaps thinking the match was won and Sevenoaks started a comeback to which Becks had no answers. In the end, they were lucky to hang on for their valuable two points.

Bromley strengthened their position as Kent 1 leaders and also increased their points difference with a narrow victory at Erith, winning 13-9.

Tom Richardson and Mark Keech got tries, while full back Mark Keech scored a rare penalty. Bromley take a break from the league when they travel to Ashford on Saturday in the fourth round of the RFU Junior Cup.

Old Olavians returned to winning ways with a 36-6 victory over Edenbridge in Kent 3. Try scorers were: Dave Mountain twice, Dave Francis, Dave Mansfield and Leigh Thomas, while Whelan got a penalty and three conversions.

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