By Dave Fletcher.

The Exiles travelled to Old Reigatian’s impressive Park Lane ground on Saturday, the morning rain having cleared and a bright afternoon on a perfect looking pitch auguring well for a fine spectacle. There have been some titanic struggles between these teams over the past few seasons and, with both teams unbeaten this season, another was expected. Cornish fielded yet another debutant in this game with Will Dulley starting at inside centre amongst a host of changes as the visitors were forced to field an unfamiliar squad.

The home team started strongly in front of their vociferous support but the first points came from the visitors. With their first attack, Cornish sucked in the midfield leaving winger Tom Jeffrey a stroll in wide right, conversion missed. If Cornish expected a stroll in the sunshine it was not to be with Reigatians dominating the remainder of the half with their speed of play, aggressive defence and excellent work at the breakdown forcing the Exiles to turn over way too much ball in the contact area and unable to string together any meaningful phases of play.

Consistent pressure from the hosts forced a penalty on 10 minutes. This was missed but not one from a similar position only 2 minutes later, 3-5. Cornish were also struggling at scrum time and the hosts forced another penalty on 27 mins, 6-5 and then a rolling maul wide right led to their first try, well converted and the lead at 13-5. Fortunately for the visitors, the home defence strayed offside just before half-time with Dave Smith successful and the lead pegged back to 13-8 at the break.

Nobody in the decent sized crowd could begrudge Reigatians this lead, in fact it could be argued that their dominance should have resulted in greater and the visitors needed to up their game to compete in the second period.

However, 5 minutes in and another Exiles indiscretion punished by the OR kicker and the lead was out to 16-8. Cornish tried to get back into the game but again failed to string together any phases and with the last quarter beckoning looked in trouble. Then a double substitution in the pack, the bulky Oli Low replacing Tom Lloyd at loose head and Alex Soskin on for Tom Patton at blindside.

Almost immediately, the tide looked to be turning with the scrum starting to dominate and the visitors crafted a score from a rolling maul wide right, Low emerging with the ball but the conversion flying wide, though the league leaders were now back in the game at 16-13. Now it was all Cornish as the home side simply couldnt clear their lines. Cornish felt they had scored another legitimate try within 5 more minutes (confirmed by some of the Reigate supporters post match) but the referee could not give what he couldn't see so fair enough.. Cornish were now starting to dominate but a combination of dogged defence and poor decision making kept them out. Not all the defence was legal however and a home defender saw yellow on 78 minutes. Could this be the visitors’ chance?

With time running down, Cornish kicked a penalty dead for a Reigatian scrum. Could this be the last play of the game? Now under pressure in the tight, Reigatians ship poor ball wide where Cornish force the knock on. With Ed Atkin firing the ball right and left, Cornish manufactured a smidgen of space for Dave Smith wide left. Two men to beat and beaten. Smith touches down in the corner to wild celebrations from the team and the scant visiting support. Conversion missed but no matter as the referee signals no side at 16-18.

Reigatians will feel this was an opportunity missed, and Cornish will know that they will need to improve on this performance to stay top as their continuity, aggression and game management was simply not good enough. But, as they say, a win’s a win and the condfidence that comes from having won so many similar matches in the past few seasons is what gives this side the belief to attack to the end. Reigatians looked a well organised outfit and, with the talent available to them on both the playing and coaching side backed up by magnificent facilities and a hard-working committee, this correspondent has little doubt that they will be in the mix come April.