Following the hard fought win at Clifton last weekend, Ealing return to Vallis Way and face Westcombe Park. Coombe were relegated into N2S last season, and just avoided relegation. This season has been a tough start again for them, and despite their league position, the games they have lost have been a lot closer than the results suggests. They have played 6 games, lost 5 and won away at Lydney 20-21. They ran Henley close as well, taking a losing bonus point off them in a nail biting 27-32 loss at home.
Combe narrowly avoided relegation last season, finishing unlucky 13th. A change of Director of Rugby saw Darron Molloy depart, and Steve Ruynolds enter the lions pit! Coombe also lost a few players to Richmond, including number 8 Tom Hayman, who came back to haunt them last Saturday with a man of the match display in the 33-6 loss at Goddington Road. They have recruited well though, capturing centre Gideon Roux and in the pack they have plenty of experience and wise heads in in John Chance ( Ex Moseley & Newbury ) and Zane Winslade ( Ex Chinnor & Bucuresti ) at 8. Ex Ealing centre Neil Brown joined this year from Canterbury, as well as ex Loughborough centre Nathan Lambden, whilst wing Kieran Leeper joined from local club Bromley and has 2 tries to his name so far this season.
Westcome Park – A history
Every club likes to think it’s a little different to the others or has something special about it’s style of play, traditions or origins. Westcombe Park thinks it is unique in all these aspects. We believe we must be the only Rugby Club founded by someone who never could and never would play the game.
In 1904, a Sunday afternoon bible class at Blackheath was attended, amongst others, by Dudley E Roughton. What set Dudley apart from his peers was the fact that he was crippled and had to use a crutch to walk. Dudley also had a peculiar passion – peculiar for someone with his handicap – he was a rugby football fanatic!
In the summer of 1904 he conceived a plan to form his own team.
Relocation to the present site at Goddington Dene, Orpington took place in 1990 when the club became the major section within the Orpington Sports Club. In 1994, Westcombe Park took over the running and responsibility for the sports club and offered playing facilities, issuing contractual terms, to other sports (cricket, football, tennis and table tennis) as Associated Clubs under the control of Westcombe Park and Orpington Sports Club; a rugby club managed by rugby folk! The club became a limited company, registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 in 1995.
Coombe in 2010
Matt Spelman, ex Bath pulls the strings from 10 for them, whilst full back Luke Giles is the clubs top points scorer with 35 ( 3 conversions, 8 penalties and 1 try to his name. Leeper and Gideon Roux have 2 tries apiece.
Of the 9 tires scored by Combe so far, the split is : 6 from the backs and 3 to the piggies, whilst of Ealing’s 28 , 23 are down to the piano players and 5 to the piano shifters!
Looking ahead to the weekend’s game, open side Jay King said "Despite the expectations when a top of the table team played a team towards the foot of the table, getting it right in training was still of prime importance.
Everyone would have expected us to go to Clifton last weekend and score a hat full of tries. This just doesn’t always happen and credit to Clifton last weekend. They played well above their league position and created some problems for us. At half time we knew we had to control territory and we did just that. This weekend Westcombe Park will come here and offer something similar. This week at training its been spot on, and we know if we can play our patterns, and look to move them around, we will create chances. We just need to concentrate for 80 minutes to ensure no slip up"
Recent results between Ealing Trailfinders and Coombe
05/12/09 Westcombe Park 24 Ealing Trailfinders 28
08/05/09 Ealing Trailfinders 73 Westcombe Park 6
