By Dave Fletcher.

A Cornish squad showing six changes from that which travelled last week and sporting their new Tribute sponsored Samurai kit for the first time, entertained KCS Old Boys this week. With both sides unbeaten a tight contest was expected with Cornish fully aware that they had been comprehensively beaten by the visitors at a similar stage last season. It was a shirtsleeves day with a brisk breeze blowing from end of the end.

Starting into the wind, Cornish were soon into the attack and a midfield offside on 4 minutes allowed the returning Phil Dale an early penalty opportunity but this was dragged wide. From the resulting kick off the visitors skipper Tom Dugarin gave early warning of his prodigious boot kicking the ball into touch on the 5m line but Cornish exited well. The first scrum is always eagerly anticipated and this resulted in a penalty to Cornish, a domination that was to endure for much of the game.

The remainder of the first quarter was littered with unforced errors, the handling from both sides resembling a wet January rather than a balmy autumn day. It was somewhat of a surprise on 19 minutes when Cornish finally fashioned an excellent backs move with fly half George Kimmins crossing just to the right of the posts, Dale adding the extras. 7 – 0 to Cornish. The breeze was still causing some problems and Dale missed a further penalty when the visitors were pinged for obstruction.

The visitors still had plenty of offer and a fine break from loose head Kiddle on 26 minutes was taken on by the supporting winger Kibblewhite, try under the posts and 7 – 7. At this stage Dale was withdrawn at scrum half for the returning Ed Atkin and it was replacement kicker David Smith who added a penalty on 31 minutes, 10 – 7. Cornish were now starting to find some fluidity and an excellently crafted try in a crowded area saw the twinkle-toed Smith dot down wide right, the full back adding a fine conversion to his try and 17 – 7 at half time.

There was plenty for the coaches to work on during the break, Cornish needing to get more quickly to the breakdown. Not only had they conceded several turnovers but had fallen foul of referee Andrew Gaynor on a number of occasions in this area.

The start of the second half saw both sides starting to look more dangerous but it was good work from the Exiles forwards on 49 minutes, followed by a great line from Craig Chatley that enabled the skipper to cross under the posts, conversion from Smith and 24 – 7. The hosts were now looking more dominant and a change at loose head with Tom Lloyd on Mark O’Leary did nothing to weaken the pack although there were no further scores in the third quarter. Cornish, though, looked as if they were enjoying the battle more than the visitors with Chris Anstey putting in a tremendous hit on half way then immediately being replaced at blindside by Dan Leo. The departing Anstey amusing the crowd by saying “It was a fair replacement, it wasn’t going to get any better than that”.

Now the Cornish three-quarters were starting to look increasingly dangerous and it was no surprise when the powerful wing Matt Hakes (moving from blindside the previous week) bustled in wide left to take the score out to 29 – 7, the conversion missed but the bonus point secure. Smith then fell foul of the referee for not retreating 10 yards quickly enough following a technical scrum offence, yellow card, this being swiftly followed by Dale returning in favoured fly half role for the departing Kimmins.

The last 5 minutes saw a flurry of activity starting with the elusive KCS skipper crossing under the posts, 29 – 14, then a try wide right for the burly Exiles wing Tom Jeffery and finally the returning Smith again baffling the visitors defence and converting his own try. Final score 41 – 14.

This was an excellent win by Cornish but they will know that they still have plenty to work on, particularly at the breakdown. They go top and travel to second-placed unbeaten Old Reigatians next week, which should be a cracker.