Since losing at KCS Old Boys on the opening day of the the 2015-16 season, London Cornish had only lost once on the road in the league, and that at title chasing CS Rugby at the beginning of this season, until this match. There were so many factors that combined to down the exiles on this day, but the bigger picture is that it is a measure of how far we have come that Old Colfeians, a club with facilities of which Cornish can only dream and who themselves were a National League side not so long ago, celebrated this win as if they had won the Cup, while their visitors sucked up their disappointment, though crucially had enough to claim 2 bonus points late on.
The backdrop to the exiles first ever visit to Horn Park explains some, but not all, of the reason Cornish came up short. Already short of their hookers and with Nick Goss admirably standing in again, the visitors were also without their regular 6, 9, 11,14 and 15 before an early morning call saw talismanic Cornish lock Harry Somers also drop out with a stomach bug, and with Ben Ievers summoned from work, which has prevented him from playing any more than 1 match this season, and not able to arrive until half time, it was a hastily assembed side that would take on an OC's team whose game plan is admirably simple, but does require very physical defence. Full debuts were given to Matt Chambers at 8 and Harry Buttery on the wing, with rare call ups for Alex Soskin at 6 and Sam Williams at 9. Claude Springer stepped into the breach in the row, and Dan Phoenix covered the full back berth.Though able to build a decent lead with the wind at their backs in the 1st half, Cornish fell foul of the referee throughout the 2nd half, and ultimately were kicked to defeat despite outscoring their hosts by 4 tries to 3.
Horn Park has an excellent 1st team surface, and Cornish opened playing from right to left in front of the small stand. Matt Chambers, who made his full debut here at 8, demonstrated just what a big influence he will have when up to speed on 5 minutes, his driving run and out the back of the hand offload down the right flank sending Dave Funston away to draw the last man and send the supporting Goss away in his inside for a try converted by Skip George Kimmins to the right of the posts. With Cornish utterly dominant in the early exchanges, the stand in back 3 of Matt Hakes, Buttery and Phoenix saw plenty of ball,but the visitors were twice tackled by the last man before Kimmins added a penalty on 17 minutes. With Williams quick to the breakdown, and Cornish playing at pace, it was no surprise when they added to their score on 20, Hakes the beneficiary of another Chambers run and offload to hand off his opposite man and scamper over wide right for an unconverted try. Kimmins was wide with another penalty attempt but when OC's were caught offside in midfield on 36, he made no mistake to take his side out to an 18-0 half-time lead.
Cornish knew what OC's were likely to do, but were caught cold at the start of the 2nd half, as the home side launched a series of bulldozing runs, encouraged by the visitors tackling way too high, and one of their number twisted over for a converted try on 43. Encouraged by the ease with which this was achieved, they scored a very similar try just 3 minutes later and suddenly it was game on with the conversion making a 4 point difference. The exiles withdrew Jamie Robert-Tissot and Alex Soskin for Mark O'Leary and Ben Ievers, who had finally arrived. This solidified the set pieces, but with so many players playing out of position or lacking regular rugby, it was understandable that defensively the effort was disjointed. To compound the felony, Cornish simply could not understand the referees communication at the breakdown, conceding a string of penalties as the lad, who was reffing his first match this season at any level, may have been a tad rusty. OC's landed penalties on 51, 53 and 56 minutes to take the lead and stretch it out to 23-18. It should be added that few of these kicks were gimmees, and the home kicker had a day of which he can be justifably proud. A decent crowd sensed blood, and it was to the exiles credit that they responded in style, dominance at the scrum resulting in a James La Broy run and Williams snipe sending openside Tom Ievers, in the best form of his life, into a gap to hand off a tackler (pictured) and sprint clear to run near to the posts for a try Kimmins converted to give his side back the lead at 23-25. 2 minutes later and this topsy turvy match changed again, Cornish pinged for an obvious penalty, and losing a man to the bin giving the home side a 1 point and 1 man advantage. The most controversial moment occurred with 8 minutes remaining. Cornish conceded a penalty 10 out from their posts, and while Kimmins was speaking with the referee, OC's took a quick tap behind him, and waltzed away for a try awarded despite protestations from Kimmins and his team. A now incensed exiles side upped the ante, winning a penalty in midfield and kicking to the 22. Ben Ievers won the lineout, and when the maul was downed 5 out, Williams was on hand to snipe his way over for the bonus point try converted by Kimmins. With just 2 minutes remaining, Cornish were pinned inside their 22, and again were livid to be pinged as they made their way out for a ruck offence. The OC kicker sensibly used every second he was allowed before launching the final act of the match between the sticks to ensure his team had doubled their number of wins in the season.
OC's really needed this win as they have a tough run of fixtures either side of the Xmas break, and they maybe wanted it just that little bit more. It is likely to be some battle at the bottom with 3 going down, but should the weather turn nasty they have the team to exploit it. We wish them well and look forward to welcoming them to our humble abode in the New Year!
Cornish can chalk this one up as a bad day at the office. With a raft of players back next week, including Somers who has only featured in one defeat and who would have loved the close quarter combat in this match, the exiles will want to bounce back quickly. This match also demonstrated a couple of areas in which Cornish need more depth - rest assured, we are onto it despite losing the odd player recently to local clubs offering the lure of filthy lucre!