A very strong defensive performance coupled with an ability to look after the ball in the final quarter of the match, and the inability of their hosts to finish their chances, saw visitors Guildford deservedly beat London Cornish by 21-13 at the Richardson Evans in London 2 South-West on Saturday. The home side went down by a goal and two penalties to 3 goals and subsequently slipped to a season low of 6th position in the division, albeit in a very tight group of teams. Those watching were treated to an excellent game of rugby, and all involved should be complemented in the manner in which it was played.

Cornish were again without Skipper Dave Theobald, his absence on holiday forcing a recall for the semi-retired James Turnbull at tight-head. The only other change from the side successful the previous week saw a recall at 13 for Adam Gingell in place of the similarly holidaying Graeme Smeaton, though the bench saw the returns from injury of Hamish Cuming and Ed Nimmons. The immaculate pitch at the REMPF was admired by both sets of players, officials and spectators, and any early drizzle had subsided to leave a dry day, great conditions for rugby. The visitors had edged a thriller in the return fixture, and both sides went into the game in a decent run of form so expectations on sides were high.

Cornish won the toss and elected to play towards the clubhouse into a very stiff breeze. The first 10 minutes were spent mid pitch as both sets of players tested for weaknesses. Both no 8s are decent ball carriers, but found robust defence preventing them making the yardage they normally make, stand-in Cornish Skipper Simon Brading having a particularly strong game. On 11 minutes the visitors had the first chance to bother the scoreboard, a penalty won on the 10 metre line for not rolling away being chipped right of the uprights. On 15 minutes Gs used the strong wind to drive a penalty into the left hand corner. Though they won the lineout, they were unable to rumble an equally lumpy pack over the line and a scrum V was awarded. Unable to drive their opponents in the tight, the ball was snaffled on the floor by Will Carew-Gibbs and kicked clear. On 20 minutes the Surrey side won another penalty for offside and again kicked to the corner. This time Cornish competed and paid the penalty, unable to prevent the maul from crashing across their line 10 feet in from the touchline, the conversion lifted on the wind between the uprights. Back came Cornish, within 60 seconds turning Gs over inside their 22 as George Johnson put his head in where it hurts. Poor protection at the ruck saw a wobbly pass to midfield knocked on and the chance went with it. On 26 minutes Cornish returned a kick into the hands of Brading, who drove a low grubber into touch on the Gs 22. Phil Ridsdale pinched the lineout and as fly half spun the ball into midfield, the Gs backs were caught offside. McKeown reduced the arrears, his kick making the score 7-3. On 30 minutes and with Cornish seemingly making light of the wind in their faces, Dave Madigan hooked a well flighted box kick down the right flank where the diminutive Carew-Gibbs claimed it and drove upfield. Cornish worked two phases into the Gs half where a stray boot winkled the ball out from an offside position, the long range penalty attempt driven just wide of the left hand upright. Now it was Gs turn, a quick tap penalty worked to their hooker, who looked as though he had broken through down the left wing only to be flattened by a munching tackle from Brading, the ball knocked on in the tackle for Cornish to clear their lines. With Turnbull, Carew-Gibbs and Mike Bond continuing to hold their own in the tight, it was at the lineout that Gs were having their most success, the exiles not enjoying an unusually off day. However, on 35 minutes Cornish won successive penalties to drive into the Gs 22 in the top right hand corner. A crucial phase of the game now saw a full 5 minutes of exiles pressure as Andrew McEwen, Brading, Pete Calvert, Turnbull and Ridsdale repeatedly hammered away at the Gs defensive line. Though giving up a series of penalties, the visitors played the referee very cannily, not losing a man to the bin yet offending inside the red zone repeatedly. Eventually, the ball was knocked on and the delighted Gs were able to clear their lines, the whistle at the break seeing them 7-3 to the good, their line still intact.

Guildford were quickest off the mark at the restart, and they won a kickable penalty in a central position just outside the 22 only for the quick to miss left. On 44 minutes, another pivotal moment in the match saw Cornish full back Nick Harlock hit a great line to pierce the visiting defence on half-way. Linking with Bond then McKeown, they put Ian Keith in space, him breaking into the 22 and to the line where the ball was knocked from his grasp at the very second he was planting it down for the score. This turn of events seemed to unsettle the home side, for now they started forcing the game, twice knocking the ball on in attacking positions. This profligacy was punished in no uncertain terms on 55 minutes, Gs winning a strike against the head on the exiles 22, and then their tighthead finding far too much room around the fringes to bash his way through and dash over near the posts, the score improved to give his side a rather flattering 14-3 lead, but the exiles the architects of their own downfall. Turnbull had now run out of gas, him having suffered from flu all week, Cuming on in his place on the unfamiliar side of tight head. Cornish needed a quick response and they got one, a huge hit at the restart from Johnson seeing a penalty awarded for the visitors not rolling away. McKeown has been in decent place kicking form of late, and he added the 3. Suddenly, Cornish picked up the pace, and on 61 minutes gained due reward. A loose kick out of defence from Guildford was returned with interest by Harlock, and he linked with Robin Heymann and Gingell to release the flying Laurie Bridgett up the right flank. He outsprinted his opposite number crossing the whitewash wide out and then arrowing half way in to the post for the score, McKeown again splicing the uprights to reduce the deficit to 1 at 14-13. Cornish now had the bit between their teeth, and on 64 minutes from a turnover inside their 22 the exiles again attacked from deep, Madigan quick to spot the opportunity. The ball was spun to Harlock who flew out of the 22 and drew his man, the ball only needing to make it through one more pair of hands to put the rapid Heymann in the clear, but once again eyes were taken off the ball and it was knocked on before the wing could get it, and once again this profligacy was ruthlessly punished. Within 2 minutes a poor kick gave Gs a lineout on the Cornish 22, and for the first time this season the exiles were marched back and over their line from distance, the score now back out to 13-21 after the conversion. Nimmons was brought on for Ridsdale in an attempt to shore up the lineout, but for whatever reason these remaining minutes were the most frustrating of the lot as Guildford started really dominating all aspects of the set piece. The exiles made another change, bringing O’Daly on at 13 in place of Gingell. Finally, on 73 minutes a lung bursting run by Calvert in midfield saw him link with Bond then Johnson, who broke into the Gs 22 at pace only to be called back for a forward pass. Though the clearing kick into the wind was badly sliced, the lineout was again lost by Cornish. A series of lost set pieces gave the visitors the chance to firmly camp inside their hosts half for the remaining minutes, and it was only strong defence that prevented them rumbling across for the bonus point try, which would have been especially tough on the home side who even the Gs supporters conceded deserved to get something out of this well contested Level 7 match. The final whistle was rightly greeted by an exultant Guildford side, them having deserved their win as much for their great defence as for their ability to look after the ball when it mattered most.

It says much about the respect that the visitors afforded their hosts that they ranked this their best performance of the season – the play-off spot and maybe more is theirs to lose now, though the loss of their excellent tight head who returns to NZ for good this week, will not aid their cause. Cornish need to bounce back from this defeat very quickly to stay involved and they need only look to their near neighbours for the proof it can be done. Two years ago at this stage of the season Cornish completed the double over Wimbledon, who then embarked on an unbeaten 10 match run that took them up via the play offs. The commitment required to achieve such a run means sacrifice will have to be made – we will now see if the exiles players are up to making those sacrifices, which some have already embraced in rearranging their holidays for the off season.

LCRFC – Nick Harlock, Laurie Bridgett, Adam Gingell (Conor O’Daly), Ian Keith, Robin Heymann, Rich McKeown, Dave Madigan, Andrew McEwen, George Johnson, Simon Brading (Capt.), Phil Ridsdale (Ed Nimmons), Pete Calvert, James Turnbull (Hamish Cuming), Will Carew-Gibbs, Mike Bond.