London Cornish made it one away defeat in the last 23 regular season away league matches with an ultimately comfortable win against Gravesend at Rectory Field on Saturday. Shorn of a regular hooker, the exiles took time to garner the necessary possession to feed their threatening backline, but when they did, they struck decisively to land the bonus point and move into the top half of the fledgling London 1 South table.
With Tim Homan on parental duties, and Jake Slade called in to work at late notice, Cornish used Dave Theobald at hooker alongside the fit again Tom Lloyd, whilst an eye infection ruled out back row Tom Ievers at the 11th hour, meaning a start for former Gravesend player Chris Anstey. In the backs, Dave Funston wasn't risked so Joe Donnelly started at centre, and former England 7s international David Smith was available again, and was on the bench. The visitors found a pitch in decent condition, with a healthy covering of grass considering the firm ground underfoot. A crowd of a couple of hundred gathered pitchside, with a healthy smattering of Cornishmen within their number.
The home side shaded the early exchanges without ever really threatening, tending to use pick and drives and kicks in behind to gain field position. Cornish struggled a little in the early lineout battle, but again edged the tight, Claude Springer enjoying his best day yet in an exiles shirt at 8, making plenty of hard yards. The first score came out of the blue on 25 minutes, a hint of crossing seeing the home 10 find a gap, and 2 supporting passes seeing a home lock lurch across the line just to the left of the posts for a converted try. An early change saw Mark O'Leary withdrawn for Nick Goss to move to hooker and Matt Hakes on in the back row. The league newcomers hadn't hit their straps until this point, but stung by the score, and galvanised by a fine performance from scrum half Rich Stephens, and by the combative nature of their locks Harry Somers and James La Broy, Cornish upped their game. They had their reward on 33, Nick Goss (whose folks continue to drive up for games from Cornwall) linked with Dan Phoenix, and as the centre burst through to the shadow of the try line, he was literally collared by a home forward. As players piled up over the line, the referee marched under the posts for the penalty try, much to the chagrin of the home supporters. The photograph confirms the correct decision was made. A bullocking Lloyd run very nearly added to his sides score on 35 but a knock on saw the opportunity go begging. An offside offence a couple of minutes later saw the Kent side turn around 10-7 to the good.
Cornish made a further change at the break, Tom Jeffery replaced by full-back Smith to allow Andy Hill onto his favoured wing slot. However, Gravesend extended their lead on 47 minutes with a penalty and must have thought they were heading clear. This however, is a relentless Cornish side, and Stephens spotted a gap 5 minutes later, and was through it before you could say "dreckly!" He angled his run into the 22, and then reversed a pass inside to Goss, who in turn flicked it inside to Smith who gassed the last man to score under the posts, Kimmins taking his side into the lead with the conversion. With his side now in the ascendancy, the Cornish skipper added a penalty on 56 minutes following a ruck offence, taking the score to 17-13 in the exiles favour. A further change saw Oli Low return from injury to replace Lloyd, and he was quick to deploy his own bullocking running ability, carrying well in the remaining minutes. On 61 minutes, the visitors stunned the home faithful with a fantastic try. Counter attacking from deep down the left flank, Smith linked with Hill and Donnelly to send Hakes sprinting clear and under the posts for a great try, and with the conversion made by Kimmins, the visitors already looked winners at 24-13 as Gravesend's over-reliance on the rolling maul or their 12 hitting it up was well marshalled by this point. They narrowed the gap with a long-range penalty on 66, but were again found wanting down their right wing 11 minutes from time, Hill demonstrating just what a fine capture he is this season, burning his opposite man on the outside before handing off the full back and diving over wide left (pictured) for the bonus point score, though it went unconverted. This score took any remaining wind out of the home side's sails, and Cornish were able to play out time with no addition to the score, winners by 29-16.
This was a third consecutive home defeat for Gravesend, and with their next home game against unbeaten Chichester, they may find it tough to turn this run around in the short term. They have also slipped into the bottom 2, and though its early days they will want to pick up wins soon. A packed bar post match suggests that they wont lack for support off the pitch in any case.
Woken from their 1st half slumber, Cornish produced some great rugby in the 2nd period, and will want to carry this into next week. They are not far away from being bolstered by a few huge players for the club who have missed the entire season to date, so things are looking up at LCRFC!