Chichester made 6 changes to the side that lost narrowly to London Cornish last time out. Martin O’Callaghan, Zac Conoly and Ben Polhill came into the pack, Matt McLagan returned in the backs with Dane Gingell and Will Norton on the bench.

The match was played in dry, windy conditions on a pitch with a decent amount of grass after the fortnight of rain since the last home game.

Westcombe kicked off up the slope. It took 22 minutes to get the first score on the board when a steal from a Combe lineout was recovered and run in by their hooker from 22 metres. Converted. 0 - 7. Up until that point neither team looked comfortable and play was punctuated with a succession of handling errors, penalties and the visitor’s misfiring lineout. Combe increased their lead with further tries after 29 and 34 minutes with well timed runs from the full back and scrum half breaching the Blues’ defence. 0 - 19. With 3 minutes left, and 5 minutes of sustained pressure in the Coombe red zone, Harry Seaman caught the visitor’s defence napping as he darted through the defence from 8 metres out, momentum carrying him and 2 defenders over the line. Converted by Elliot Haydon. 7 - 19.

Half time and a largely unforgettable 40 minutes of rugby.

After a scrappy start to the second half Chichester won their lineout on halfway and advanced the ball nearly 25 metres with a driving maul. A series of pick and goes moved the ball to the 5 metre line. Seaman passed back to Shaun Baker who delicately chipped the ball over the Coombe defence for Rhys Thompson to run through and ground the ball next to the posts. Converted by Haydon. 14 - 19 and Blues back in the game. From the restart the visitors advanced the ball down the pitch and won a penalty which was kicked to the corner. From the lineout the ball was moved across the pitch and a looping pass created an overlap for a try in the corner. Conversion missed. 14 - 24 and over 30 minutes left to play. Over the next 10 minutes the intensity of Chichester’s play increased and another driving maul delivered the ball to the opposition 22 metre line. A delightful interchange between Charlie Wallace, Dane Gingell and Baker advanced play to the 5 metre line and, after a series of pick and goes it was Ben Deavall who stretched over the line to dot down. Conversion missed. 19 - 24. The response from Coombe was instant and Blues found themselves defending on their 22 metre line for several minutes until an infringement provided the visitors with the opportunity to increase the lead with a penalty in front of the posts. 19 - 27. From the restart clearance kicks were exchanged and an awkward bounce momentarily caught out the Coombe winger, deep in his own half. He recovered, collected the ball and hit the after burners down the touch line. But Sam Drayson had other ideas taking him into to touch on the half way line, with a perfectly timed tackle, much to the enjoyment of the Chichester faithful. With 6 minutes left the visitors crossed the whitewash for their 5th try of the afternoon. Converted. 19 - 34. With less than 2 minutes left, Coombe conceded a penalty on their 5 metre line. A quick penalty from Thompson was stopped just short and a series of pick and goes set up the ball for Gingell to cross the line, supported by Wallace and Ben Polhill, for the bonus point try. Converted. 26 - 34. There was relief for the contingent of Coombe fans when the referee blue the whistle for full time!

26 - 34 and a well deserved bonus point for Chichester after a dogged performance that tested Westcombe Park.

Man of the match was Harry Seaman.

Chichester squad: Drayson, Cameron, Deavall, O’Callaghan, Conoly, B. Polhill, Wallace (Capt.), Spriggs, Seaman, Baker, Blewitt, Thompson, Renwick, McLagan, Haydon, W. Norton, Gingell and Trodd.

Next Saturday (12th of October) Chichester welcome newly promoted Beckenham to Oaklands Park. Kick off is at 15:00.