London Cornish cruised to a comfortable 5 try to nil win at Winchester at North Walls Park on Saturday, and only the most one eyed home supporter would begrudge that the difference between the two sides could have been far wider, as despite the size of the win the visitors still managed to butcher a few gilt edged opportunities. As in so many matches they have played this season, the Champions relentless brand of rugby wore down their hosts, as they won going away in the final quarter despite playing most of that period with 14 and then 13 men. In a pretty disappointing season for last seasons 4th placed team, this 6th home reversal of the season was Winchester’s largest margin of defeat at home since London Irish Amateur thumped them by 37-3 back in April 2010.
Thankfully, some key personnel returned to action for this one, props Tom Lloyd and Dave Theobald joined by scrum half Rich Stephens, allowing Chris Smart to return to his natural position at 13. Chris Anstey was called in at 6, and with wing Chris Kolapo-Ajala rested after taking a few knocks the previous week, Tom Havercroft was given a rare start out wide. The Winchester line up reflected that they had a host of their first choice players available again, so a tough day at the office was anticipated in front of a very decent crowd fuelled by a former players lunch. The pitch was a tad threadbare in parts, but in decent enough condition for both sides to feel they could play with width.
Playing with a significant breeze at their backs but up the slope, the Hampshire side came out fired up, and dominated territory for the opening quarter, and though they were aided by indiscipline by the Champs, their game plan was predictable in that they hammered away around the fringes, tried to roll mauls or simply threw the ball to their 13, who was well marshalled by Smart all afternoon. Twice Winchester turned down kickable penalties to go for the corner, but they were up against the best defence in the league and were repelled at every turn, until eventually being pinged for holding for Cornish to clear. With their first attack of note, Cornish demonstrated the art of scoring points when you have the opportunity, a fine counter-attacking Tom Jeffery run down the left wing taking play from one 22 to the other, and then a couple of phases following a lineout won by Harry Somers, the home d was caught offside in midfield for George Kimmins to drive a penalty between the uprights for the lead, 20 minutes on the clock. With hooker Jake Slade in fine form alongside Lloyd and Mark O’Leary, the visitors began to pinch ball against the head in the tight (6 taken against the head by Cornish in the match), and the flow of ball eventually told as Stephens sniped his way over for a typical 9s try on the half hour mark, Kimmins making it a maximum. A Winchester penalty reduced the arrears on 33 but the visitors were in the ascendancy now, a storming James La Broy run nearly added to the score down the left wing and a Matt Hakes thrust supported by Havercroft just before the break threatened another down the right, but to no avail.
Cornish suffered a blow early in the 2nd half when one of their forwards was binned for a ruck offence on the half way line, but the Winchester half-backs struggled to get their back line moving and even with an additional man for 10 minutes, the home side still lost the ball against the head in the tight. With Kimmins exerting an increasing influence on the game at 10, the visitors missed a couple of penalties to add to their lead as the Hampshire side attempted to use their lumpy runners one out and were pinged for holding, Nick Goss (who had a superb game) and Anstey both winning ball on the floor. On 52 minutes Cornish worked an overlap wide left but frustratingly knocked on with the line gaping. The cheers of the home support were soon silenced however, as 4 minutes later from a maul Slade broke blind, sold a dummy, drew a man and sent Mark Osei-Tutu scampering down the left wing for a crucial score converted by Kimmins. On came Theobald for Lloyd, upping the pressure in the tight, and the Champions moved up a gear. On 65 minutes another La Broy charge took play into the home 22, and when the ball was worked wide left it was Hakes on hand to score near the touchline, this one unconverted. Smart was withdrawn at this point to give Paddy Dean a run at 10, Kimmins moving to 13. Somers was also replaced now, former Surrey lock Pete Calvert on for the first time this season to add to his 100+ league games for Cornish. He would have to work hard too, for his side lost another man to the bin on 73. Calvert took up the mantle of talisman from Somers, a typically robust driving run taking play deep into the home 22, before Kimmins spotted a gap and darted over wide left for the bonus point try, not improved. Despite losing a third man to the bin with time almost up, Cornish broke from deep with Skip Craig Chatley linking with La Broy and Stephens to send Kimmins over for the final try of the match, this one also not improved. Cornish had scored 22 points in the final 24 minutes to send their supporters home happy.
Winchester will take some consolation from at least getting game time into their near first choice team. They have penetrative backs when given the chance, but need to find more ways of getting good quality ball into the hands of their fine strike runners at 13 and 15. It will be interesting to see what direction they take next season.
The Cornish response to the cup defeat was exactly what the coaching team would have hoped to see, a strong all round effort with improved availability. There are 2 tough matches left to try and land the second goal of the year, an unbeaten league season – this match demonstrated that the squad also have their eyes on that potentially fantastic achievement!