It was with a sense of déjà vu that London Cornish were summarily dispatched from the Intermediate Cup 1st Round by a strong Sussex side from London 2 South-East. If Brighton Blues go on to win the competition as their neighbours East Grinstead did last season, the pattern will be complete. The visitors won by 2 goals, 3 tries and a penalty to nil as the exiles softly, softly approach to the opening round of this competition was found wanting for the second season running. With London 2 S/W seemingly opting out of the competition en masse in the opening round, only Portsmouth and Totts carry the flag into round 2.

Cornish went into this match having made a host of changes to the squad successful the previous week, a mixture of resting players with knocks, providing players to the following days Surrey Presidents XV and giving a few the weekend off. A few seasons back this wouldn’t have mattered as you could winkle your way past your 1st Round opponent. These days however, the only sides entering the competition tend to be there for good reason or they simply withdraw, witness 5 walkovers in the London section of the competition on the day. Brighton are certainly one to take seriously, giving no quarter with a thoroughly decent all round performance.

The match began on a perfect surface with the exiles playing towards the new scoreboard end, and the home side actually began very brightly with no 8 Tim Oakes and debutant hooker Tim Homan hammering into the visitors 22 as the exiles prevented the blues from touching the ball for the opening few minutes. However, as the bodies were cleared from the ensuing ruck, it was clear that Cornish open side Phil Jones had apparently suffered a nasty injury, and he was quickly replaced by Chris Anstey. Within 4 minutes the Sussex side were in front, a penalty for offside in midfield successfully knocked over by their kicker. A Nick Stanley break settled Cornish nerves but it took a superb cover tackle from Oakes to prevent the visitors from opening their account shortly after. This was a hugely physical battle from start to finish, and it took a huge toll on both sides, lock Ben Ievers replaced by Tom Stock on 13 minutes and Brighton also being forced to replace 2 players in the opening quarter. Cornish had a chance to level things up on 16 but the penalty drifted narrowly wide despite a decent Graeme Smeaton strike. Threatening again wide right, the visitors went close again on 20 minutes but full back Tom Dorse repeated the Oakes dose to snuff out the danger only for a clearing kick to be charged down and a scrum V awarded. A wheel and a pick up followed by a series of close quarter drives saw a Brighton forward squeeze over for an unconverted try. Gradually, the weather deteriorated causing an increasing number of knock on’s, and despite some decent positional kicks from Smeaton, the visitors set piece held up preventing the exiles from remaining in good field position for long enough to hurt the blues. The one time they did fashion some room, Iain Short and Stanley combined to send Robin Heymann on his way only for the play to be called back for a marginal forward pass. The final action of the first half saw the blues thumping away at the Cornish line but strong defence from Mark Osei-Tutu, Andrew Dinwiddie and Oakes held them at bay, the score 0-8 at the break.

During the half time break the heavens opened, and your correspondent was hard pressed to take eligible notes. Early Brighton pressure was repelled at close quarters and finally ended by a smothering tackle and steal by wing Phil Francis. However, it didn’t take long for the visitors to return and add to their earlier score with a pick and drive from the base of a twisting scrum, this score also not converted. The scrums were a puzzle all afternoon, the visitors seemingly having the nudge and yet Cornish nicking 5 against the head with clean strikes. Gradually, the blues upped the ante and they were aided by curious decision making by their generous hosts, too often decent possession aimlessly kicked away when in good field position. Such profligacy will be punished by good sides, and Brighton proved they are certainly that, countering down the right wing and weaving away from some poor tackling to dive over for a converted try on the hour. On came Cornish Player of the Year Nick Harlock to try and inspire his side, but though he was able to make half breaks, he was not able to link with his support to make the key incision. Brighton were looking increasingly dangerous, twice foiled by great tackles by Heymann, the Cornishman belying his size repeatedly returning to the coalface to lay his body on the line where others feared to tread. Cornish brought on prop Oli Low for his debut on 63 minutes, but he could only watch on as the visiting 9 capped an impressive display to waltz through more paper thin tackling to slide over for another converted score with 13 left on the clock. With 8 left the Sussex side put the seal on their win when they returned another poor kick with interest, great support lines and good handling in the conditions seeing them plunge over wide right to make the score an emphatic 0-32. To their credit, the exiles didn’t give it up, Homan demonstrating a thirst for battle to drive over the gainline and link with the rampaging Osei-Tutu only for him to be held up by 3 defenders over the line, this action bringing the curtain down on a well refereed match.

Brighton can be well satisfied with their days work, and it was great to welcome them back to the pub post match – the only thing they will rue is that they brought hardly any spectators to witness about as comprehensive an away win as you will have seen at the REMPF in the last 10 years! We wish them well in the competition, the lucky omen of last years conquerors now firmly bestowed on their broad shoulders.

Someone asked your correspondent if there were any positives to take from such a match for Cornish – at least the away section of the new scoreboard is in fine working order! However, that would be unfair to a number of players beginning their LCRFC 1s careers in this match – they will learn plenty and return the better for it.