Some might say that Lewes Fireworks is an entirely predictable event, a procession followed by bonfires and fireworks, but regulars will tell you that this really doesn’t begin to tell the full story of this multi-faceted, cultural extravaganza. So it was with this 2nd Round Intermediate Cup match played on the same day, an apparently entirely predictable result, and the scoreline apparently reflecting one way traffic throughout. The pitchside regulars of both clubs will tell this was absolutely not the case as unbeaten London 2 South-East league leaders East Grinstead took an hour to master a much changed London Cornish in the first ever competitive match between the 2 clubs, the Sussex sides superior fitness the key difference on the day.

Cornish arrived at the well-appointed Saint Hill Road HQ of their hosts to find another interesting ground, this one with a ridge straight down the middle sloping gently off to the flanks both sides. A tiny changing room (a shame this, since Gs have a great facility and its new enough for them to have made something larger) ensured changing in shifts was the only option. The pitch itself was wet underfoot but in excellent condition, so good in fact that the hosts invited the exiles to warm up on the distant 3rd team pitch while they rather cheekily ran their unit session on the 1s pitch. Cornish had made no secret of their intention with regard selection for this one, resting their 1,2, 6, 8, 9, 13, 14 and 15 from the previous match to give 1s game time to a host of players who had not much of an opportunity thus far in the season. This selection tactic by Cornish has not changed over the years and is normally fine, since the chances of being drawn away against an unbeaten side fielding the strongest side they could on the day is very unlikely….

The visitors played down the hill in the opening period, the clubhouse on their right as they attacked, a decent crowd having enjoyed a good lunch. Cornish had brought a few too, and they ‘massed’ on the far touchline from the clubhouse, a few sporting the black & gold. The exiles were very ponderous in the opening minutes, knock on’s and missed tackles in abundance, and it was no surprise when the home kicker had a chance for the lead after a high tackle, on the Cornish 22 just to the right. Whilst he has a decent boot however, his aim was awry on both this and another occasion 3 minutes later from smack in front. If this was profligate, what followed was pure charity as the hosts right wing took advantage of a truly dreadful kick chase to dance all the way through centre pitch from some way inside his half to canter over just to the left of the posts, only to spill the ball in the act of grounding it, much to his embarrassment and his teams mates astonishment. It didn’t take long for his side to make amends however, a missed tackle in midfield from a scrum close in allowing the Gs centre to crash over for a converted score on 13 minutes. What was becoming apparent was that the hosts lineout is undoubtedly a weak point, Surrey lock Pete Calvert a constant threat on the hosts throw in. This began to provide a steady trickle of ball back to the exiles, though poor kick chases continued to hound them. The Gs 9, about to enjoy an extended run in the side following a broken arm suffered by his counterpart the previous week, has a habit of crabbing across the pitch hoping to pick up runners either inside or outside his arc. Though this tactic bore fruit early on as the exiles defensive line stood back too deep, his room was reduced as the match went on nullifying much of this threat, Miran Serdarevic able to scrag him on a number of occasions. On 18 minutes one such a foray lead to another penalty out in front, and this time the home kicker made no mistake, his side now 10-0 to the good and Cornish not having made the home 22 yet. Completely against the run of play, the game turned on its head on 21 minutes. Gs 10 was charged down on his 22 for Cornish fly half Rich McKeown to gather and drive deep into the Gs 22. Quickly recycled ball saw debutant scrum half Sam Williams spot a gap in the retreating home rearguard, him darting through and diving over the line for the score 10 feet to the right of the posts, McKeown adding the extras to much jubilation in the visitors ranks. Suddenly the game was turned on its head, Chris Turner now repeatedly winning penalties for the home side holding on the floor as tackles were made and runners downed short of the gainline. With Calvert now seeming to read Gs lineout and the scrums even, it was the home sides turn to defend, though their right wing was a constant threat throughout and only a fine Robin Heymann cover tackle on 31 prevented further damage from a counter down the right flank. On 35 another Turner steal on the floor, supported by driving runs from prop Hamish Cuming and hooker George Johnson saw the ball worked back to McKeown, who from well inside his own half launched a bomb that the home left wing knocked on. At the scrum the home backline was caught offside just inside their half, McKeown stepping up and launching a howitzer of a penalty between the uprights to level the scores. The final act of the half saw Turner yet again win ball on the floor after a decent Gs attack, the score at the break an unlikely 10-10.

On 42 Gs were pinged for a no arms tackle and Cornish kicked into the home half. They set a rolling maul before Cuming and Mark Osei-Tutu took the ball on and a penalty was won, this attempt flying just wide of the left post. Finally gaining some field position on 45, a frustrated Gs were once more turned over on the floor as Skipper Dave Theobald and Turner downed a man and won the penalty. Clearly grumpy, they were then marched back 10 for backchat, bringing the kick into their half and into the range of the bang in form McKeown. This time he made no mistake and now his side lead the match at 13-10. Gs upped their game, attacking down the right only for their wing to be shepherded into touch by McKeown and full back Ed Good. On 49 they worked their way into the 22 only for Osei-Tutu to win the ball back at the ruck and Williams, enjoying a fine match, to clear. With centres Ian Keith and Luke Spells holding a higher line, there was less space for the 9 to hit anyone other than inside runners, this more predictable tactic channeling the runners into the hungry exiles back row and the hard working Tom Stock. Gs replaced their tight head and lock on 51, and were quickly back on the attack but as if to demonstrate the difference in tactics, Spells agonizingly knocked on in the act of intercepting the ball in midfield as he moved up and in to reduce the space. The next few minutes saw the turning points in the match; first on 58 the Gs left wing stepped of his left foot and simply waltzed in on an angle to score untouched under the posts, the converted try such a soft one to concede after all the effort to get back in the match, and the home side back in front at 17-13. Then on 61 a Heymann chip in behind was fielded by the Gs left wing who was met by a ferocious tackle by Good, the power lifting the player up and back with one foot off the ground. Such is the fashion at present following the RWC, the referee deemed the tackle worthy of a yellow and consigned Good to the bin. Sensing their moment and upping their game once more, Gs now threw everything at Cornish, them a very fit side. On the hour they worked room for their right wing, who knocked on with the line gaping, but 2 minutes later a simple missed tackle in midfield was all it took for their centre to be in under the posts for another converted score. The belief seemed to drain from the exiles now, the fitter side with all the play against 14 men. On 65 Gs right wing delivered what he had threatened from the outset, stepping through 3 weak tackles to run round and under the posts, the lead suddenly out to 31-13, the sin bin seeing Cornish conceded 14 vital points. On came Rich Fisher, Phil Ridsdale and Dave Soar for Cuming, Calvert and Stefan Duda. Though having fresher legs and with their side back up to 15, the emphasis now was on defence and the scrum came under increasing pressure as the exiles became scrappy the more they tired. Gs knew they had their hosts where they wanted them and delivered the coup de grace 5 minutes from the end, their right wing completing a decent afternoons work with his hat trick score, also converted from wide right. There was just time for the exiles to field 39 years young Gregg Quixley at tighthead in place of Theobald, the former back at LCRFC after a couple of seasons away, him a stalwart of many a promotion campaign just under a decade ago. He still warms up with all the vigour of an 18 year old, even if the body is not quite so willing these days! When the final whistle went, Cornish could be content that they competed for long periods of this match and forced their hosts to go to plan b to win the game, the key difference the home sides fitness on the day.

East Grinstead is clearly an ambitious club, well sponsored and with a semi-professional set up at their ground. There is little doubt that they are in a less taxing division than London 2 South-West, where every side has ammo with which they can hurt you, so they will need to increase their strength in depth if they are to compete well at the higher level next season. Their committee are a decent bunch, though they too must be wandering what the moniker ‘G Force’ is all about; appropriate for your Under 9s maybe, but your 1s?! We wish them well in the next round and with their season, a decent bunch this lot. Cornish will take plenty from this match, not least because a couple of players really stuck their hands up for future 1s selection. It is rare for the exiles to have been knocked out of the cup pre Xmas, but the extra weekends off will be put to good use, both on and off the pitch.

It would be incredibly short sighted to let the 3 amateur cups wither on the vine of the RFU competitions; if the RFU cannot find a sponsor to underwrite the cost of sponsoring the competitions that give the opportunity for the vast majority of their members to make it to Twickenham, they should outsource the job to someone who can. Without that financial support, amateur clubs simply cant afford to travel distances; witness 5 clubs dropping out on the day in this competition and even more in the junior and senior vases. This game was yet another demonstration of much that is good about the cups, bringing together 2 clubs who had never met before but helping to forge some friendships that may well see the clubs meet again in the friendlier climes of pre season. The buzz that is created around clubs during a good cup run can both sustain and grow memberships for years to come, bringing new players to the game and old ones back; at a time when the RFU is losing central funding for dropping memberships, here is one avenue that requires re-exploring to reverse that trend.