A 41 point 2nd half salvo was more than enough for London Cornish to see off the challenge of London 2 North-West side Harrow in the 4th Round of the Intermediate Cup at the Richardson Evans on Saturday. 9 tries were registered by the London 2 South-West league leaders, as they move on to a home Quarter-Final against Charlton Park on March 18th.
Only a few tweaks were made to the squad successful the previous week, Harry Somers returning in place of the unavailable Ben Ievers at lock, him packing down alongside Andy Hakes making a full debut with James La Broy moving to no 8, Dave Funston in at centre with Skip Craig Chatley unavailable, and returns for last seasons top try scorer wing Tom Jeffery after a injury layoff, and this seasons top try scorer in full back David Smith. With the pitch in perfect condition, a decent crowd, buoyed by the fact that there were very few other games of note in the area on the day, made their way to the REMPF.
Cornish have made a habit of starting games slowly, and those visitors new to seeing the unbeaten exiles could have been forgiven for asking what all the fuss was about, as with their first attack, Harrow found no one home at a ruck and strolled over under the posts for a converted try, a mere 5 minutes on the clock. However, this season the exiles possess a potent back line, which is gaining strength and depth with each passing month. The latest addition to that backline is Chris Kolapo-Ajala, and his pace took him outside his man on 10 minutes to score wide right, though the conversion slid wide. With a freshening breeze at their backs, Harrow extended their lead on 12 with a penalty, but their lead didn’t last as centre Dave Funston used a deft show and go to split the visitors d on half way, before bursting clear to score under the posts, fly half George Kimmins adding the extras. Both sides lost a prop to injury in this opening period, though it seemed to hamper the visitors more as Cornish were to dominate proceedings in the tight. Cornish also withdrew Andy Hakes at this point, bringing on the lighter Steve Wood in his place, a clear statement of attacking intent in this move. Back came Harrow, working room to send one of their backs over for an unconverted try on 25 before Kimmins levelled things up at 15-15 with a penalty on the half hour mark. With half-time beckoning, a half break by Miles Rushworth gave Kolapo-Ajala a smidgeon of room. Arriving in the gap on the angle, he simply had too many wheels and tore away to plant the ball down for a try out of nothing, Kimmins making the half time score 22-15.
A Harry Somers burst was the pretext to the penalty Kimmins landed in the opening few minutes of the 2nd half to extend the lead to 10. On 48 minutes Cornish worked the ball to Smith on halfway. The former Northampton Saint and England 7s International had been relatively quiet to this point, but no more. He gassed his opposite number on the outside then rolled a perfectly weighted grubber down the left flank, turning on the afterburners to scorch outside the cover down the tramlines off the pitch, he dived on the ball to score an opportunists try, much to the astonishment of the Harrow defence and to a roar of appreciation from the assembled Cornish support. Kimmins sublime touchline conversion took the score to 32-15, and when the in form fly half stepped his way over for his own try on 53 minutes, the London 2 South-West league leaders were suddenly more than 3 scores clear. A further replacement saw Jeffery withdrawn and Nick Goss on in the back row, Matt Hakes moving out to the wing. Now Cornish upped the tempo, Wood making huge yardage in his best game this season, and open side Tom Ievers enjoying the speed at which the game was being played. At the heart of it all was scrum half Rich Stephens, and it was he who dashed clear of the cover for a try to the left of the posts converted by Kimmins on the hour mark, 44-15 to the home side. 4 minutes later and Smith again demonstrated extreme pace, searing between 2 Harrow backs for a try wide right this time, this one unconverted. Kimmins launched a crossfield bomb on halfway from left to right in the direction of Kolapo-Ajala and 3 Harrow backs on 66 minutes. The giant wing outleapt them all, regained his balance, then set off for the posts leaving a trail of would be tacklers in his wake, for Kimmins to convert the wings hat-trick score, the score now 56-15. The final exiles change gave a rest to Funston, Joe Donnelly on so no respite in the midfield for the visitors. To their credit, Harrow fought back and smashed their way over for an unconverted try on 68 minutes before Rushworth landed a well deserved try of his own under the posts with nearly the last action of the match, Kimmins adding the 2 to give him a personal tally of 23 points in an mom winning performance.
Harrow can count themselves unfortunate to have met Cornish on a day when their 2nd half performance was as good as any seen in this stellar season. They were great company before and after the match, and brought both decent support and good humour with them. We wish them well with the remainder of their season.
Cornish have landed a home draw against another of the teams relegated from London 1 last season, in Charlton Park. The Kent outfit thumped our friends from Portsmouth in the last round, and are right in contention for a Play-Off spot in London 2 South-East, so the match promises to a cracker. In the meanwhile, there is the little matter of the league to attend to for Cornish, with 2 tough away games to manage before Cup action returns in mid March!