Despite an error strewn 55 minutes in which the few hardy spectators who had located the match would have questioned their title credentials, London Cornish produced an outstanding final quarter of this London 2 South-West match at London Exiles to win going away, and extend their lead at the top of the table to 9 points at the half-way stage. As the majority of those remaining matches are away from home, many would have seen this game as a litmus test of how Cornish would cope with those matches – they can have little doubt now as the league leaders recorded their 7th straight bonus point win.
With a few key personnel missing, the visitors were forced into changes from the squad successful in the previous match. In the absence of hookers Tim Homan and Jake Slade, Dave Theobald stepped into his occasional role of hooker, with new signing Nick Goss, late of the parish of the all-conquering East Grinstead team, named as front row replacement on the bench. Skip Craig Chatley was also away, so with regular fly half George Kimmins back after a month away, he stepped into the 12 shirt with Paddy Dean retaining the 10 spot. The other interesting selections were on the bench, where Heineken Cup Winner Dan Leo was recalled alongside the fit again Mile Rushworth. Cornish have called on Leo sparingly to this point, with a view to being able to call on him more regularly in the 2nd half of the season – on this showing, he could have a massive impact.
Exiles tiny pitch is the furthest from the clubhouse at Barn Elms, and on a damp December afternoon, the biggest issue would prove to be the light, which faded so badly that is was dark by the time the players returned to the changing rooms. The hosts themselves are the leagues archetypal ‘sing when you’re winning outfit’, match reports only appearing on their website when they produce what they consider to be a ‘giant killing’. Having established themselves in the league last season, they are no longer underdogs in many of their matches, and mixed results to date make them a dangerous floater. They were clearly well up for this match, with many known to players on the Cornish side, so a few personal scores would be settled in this one.
Cornish flew out of the blocks, and this may in part explain what followed in the next 55 minutes. Driving runs by lock Ben Ievers, supported by James La Broy saw play taken in to the home 22, and when Dean and Kimmins spun the ball wide, Dave Funston was able to run it in for a try converted by Dean. Exiles responded quickly, landing a penalty from out in front on 8 minutes. There was an edge to the close quarter encounters, and the referee did well to call the Skippers together to cool things down after 10 minutes. Better was to follow for the hosts, for as they dominated possession for a period, they managed to drive over close to the posts for a converted try on 15. Try as they might, the league leaders were curiously inaccurate in much of their play during this period, knocking on, throwing poor passes when in great field position, and dropping the ball from promising rolling mauls. The visitors made a couple of early changes; one saw Goss on for his debut at hooker, Oli Low rolling off to return later in the match and skip for the day Theobald moving to his favoured tight head position; the other brought Leo into the action at 8 in place of Mark Osei-Tutu, who had been gigging in Portsmouth until the small hours in his professional capacity, and for whom sleep had clearly been in short supply! Though the flow of possession increased for Cornish (especially at lineout time where Exiles only threw to their back jumper, which Ben Ievers easily read), the succession of unforced errors continued with kicks dropped or overcooked, and a penalty missed when in good position. Exiles are too good a side to pass up on gifts, and a missed tackle in midfield saw one of their backs break clear to offload to a supporting player to cross wide right for an unconverted try, them now 15-7 to the good with 36 gone. When Cornish responded, they were pinged for holding, the ball booted out for the whistle to go for the break.
The pattern continued in the gathering gloom in the 2nd half, Cornish able to piece together a few phases before coughing the ball up. A change saw Dean withdrawn for Kimmins to step into 10, and Rushworth to come on at centre. Kimmins used his boot to good effect, drilling long, angled kicks deep into Exiles territory, but Cornish were repeatedly pinged to lose that field position, and on one occasion were actually marched back a further 10 as tempers began to fray. The home side rarely threatened as their lineout struggled and they lost a couple against the head in the tight, but they were now buoyed by their 2s appearing on the sidelines, their match having finished on an adjoining pitch. Gradually, as they have done in so many matches this season, Cornish wrested control from the hosts, with Leo at the forefront leading his charges into battle with a series of thundering tackles on the home ball carriers. This encouraged the likes of Harry Somers and La Broy into the fray, and with scrum half Rich Stephens sniping here and there, the league leaders began to gain more territory, they too now supported by their 2s who had just completed a fine comeback win at nearby Rosslyn Park Hatters in the Zoo Sports League. On 62 minutes, and following a maul from a Ben Ievers lineout steal, Kimmins hit Tom Jeffery on the slice for the giant wing to power over on the angle wide left, Kimmins striking a fine conversion in the gloom to reduce the arrears to 1. Ben Ievers came off with a knock allowing Osei-Tutu to return at this point, and the no 8 was quickly in the action winning a penalty for holding on as Exiles threated in the visitors 22. Buoyed by their score, and now playing at a higher tempo, Cornish took the lead with 6 minutes left when Oli Low (now back on for O’Leary) drove over half way and Leo took a ball blind before smashing an Exile out of his way. Quick hands put Kimmins through the gap vacated by the stricken Exiles and Kimmins took off, angling his run away from the cover to dive over wide left to the joy of his team and supporters. Dusting himself off, he took his time with his conversion, nailing it again to take the score out to 15-21. With momentum now in their favour and the home side visibly wilting, the only question that remained was could the league leaders secure the bonus point? The answer was an emphatic yes, Kimmins, Funston and Dean combining to send Hakes away down the same flank, him too quick and too powerful for the cover, crashing across the line in the fading light for the vital try, Kimmins again belying the poor visibility to add the extras and put a gloss on a fine last 18 minutes from his team. The whistle sounded shortly afterwards, the visitors having woken from their slumber in good time.
Exiles results this year suggest they have not kicked on since last season, though it may be that they are now a known quantity. They were certainly a very disappointed and dispirited bunch post match. Either way, having been kicked out of the Cup for presumably fielding an ineligible player after beating Beckenham in the last round, and now sitting 8th in the division at the half way point, they will need to reset their goals in this tough, attritional league. The return match is not until the penultimate game of the season, so it will be interesting to see the direction the respective teams have taken in the intervening period.
A few of the Cornish lads had either enjoyed an eve of match Xmas Party or had their eyes on the black tie event later the same day. Either way, they recovered their poise in time and will want to remain focussed on the remaining match of 2016 before they take a well earned rest.