League leaders Westcombe Park RFC came across from their Orpington base today to Chiswick. We were allocated the middle pitch (pitch 2) for some reason today, and have queried this with the ground management. Another relatively mild afternoon, with low grey cloud, and a moderate wind.

A good start for the CS Stags saw Pat Regan make a break through against the Combe line on the five-minute mark, and the ball channelled out to Fred Cracknell to score on the left wing. Stags lead 5 – 0 (unconverted). Combe hit back just two minutes later with an unconverted try on our right by their winger, and then on the ten-minute mark after a couple of driving mauls set up another converted try – the score now 5 – 12 to the visitors. The Combe hooker then made an incisive run five minutes later, setting up their winger up for another converted try. 5 - 19. That soon increased to 5 -26 when Combe won a penalty in the right, kicked to the corner, won the line out and drove over again for another converted try. Stags to their credit hit back with a quick tap penalty from the half way line, good driving and mauling, and Tom Johnson breaking through the Combe line and passing out to Pat Regan to run through for the try. No conversion, score now 10 -26. It was looking like we would see a few tries scored this afternoon! But it was Combe who scored next, and for the second week running Stags saw a clearance attempt ricochet unfortunately, only for Combe to pick up and pounce through for another converted try. Another Combe try followed that, once again driving over after a five-metre line out. The first half ended CS Stags 10 – Westcombe Park 40. Dan James limped off with bad ankle injury right on the cusp of the half time whistle, and we wish him a speedy recovery.

There was hope with the wind now behind them that Stags could come back with a few more tries second half, but it was not to be, (and not without trying by the Stags boys either). I shall not bore you with every single detail of the 13 tries and 9 conversions that Combe put past us this afternoon, but the rest of the second half followed the same pattern. Combe did a “Gloucester” on us, and with ruthless efficiency kicked every penalty into the corners, won the subsequent line out, and drove over for try. If not the corner flag and line out manoeuvre, it was following a scrum penalty close to our line. Another 43 points were added by Combe in the second half, and at the final whistle the score ended CS Stags 10 – Westcombe Park 83.

Summary: Another very hard shift by the boys. Seven games in a row without a break, the last two against both the in-form lead and second place teams that have somewhat run away with the league this season, was a tough call. Combe had their best runners and players back with them today, having missed them from injury the last few games, and were an extremely competent all-round unit. Having said that, Stags once again showed absolute resilience in defence, never hung their heads down or gave up, and continued battling for the full eighty minutes. There were even some flashes of brilliance and good breakthroughs in attack the few opportunities we did get. This spirit even drew complements from the Westcombe Park committee, coaching staff, and supporters.

Special mentions today go the whole CS Stags team, squad, and coaching staff. The dogged spirit and hard battling of the team, made the old boys on the side lines very proud. Far from being despondent, the club and supporters message is to go and enjoy the well-deserved Saturday off break next week, suck in the oxygen, and we are all fully confident of a re-invigorated squad back out in a fortnight. A mention too for our own former players, injured team members, and family members who came down today – your support was greatly appreciated. Go well everyone!

CS Stags scorers:
Tries: Fred Cracknell (x1) – (5 points), Pat Regan (x1) – (5 points)