Another error strewn performance saw London Cornish return from Brighton's well appointed Waterhall HQ with nothing in London 1 South on Saturday, the 8th defeat in the last 10 matches, as the exiles produced glimpses of the manner in which they are aiming to play, but compounded these by too frequently handing possession back to their grateful hosts. Only a faultless kicking performance from the tee from Skipper George Kimmins, who slotted 4 from 4 on the day, kept the exiles in touch, as they were outscored by 5 tries to 2, though remaining in 8th place in the league.
Cornish arrived at the ground to find a decent sized pitch in near perfect condition, and with a wintry sun beating down, both sides would at last have the conditions to play expansive rugby if they wanted to. The visitors were finally able to select a bona fide hooker in the front row, Tim Homan only playing his 4th game of the season. Otherwise, the team had a similar look to it from previous weeks, still no returns for messrs Slade, Somers, Goss, Fletcher, Phoenix, Jeffery or Smith (to say nothing of the season long absentees in Lloyd, Carew-Gibbs, Osei-Tutu, Chatley, or Rushworth), though some of the former are very close to match action. Many clubs suffer injury lists like this, though Cornish are having to contend with a 2nd team competition that has far too many free weekends thru clubs dropping out and others scratching, meaning some of the players stepping up are doing so having played mainly 3rd team rugby this season, and that bridge is proving a very big one. The last time the exiles 2s played a league game was on Jan 13th - perhaps next season other London 1 clubs should see about creating their own 2nd team league and simply play both matches on the same day?
Cornish lead after 5 minutes, a penalty won yet again at scrum time slotted from just inside the home half by Kimmins. However, before the exiles had any chance to build on their lead, another chip over the top bounced obliquely into the arms of an onrushing opponent and away from the cover to see a try conceded, though it wasnt converted. With both sides happy to put width on the ball, there was real pace in the game, but where the home side looked assured with their handling, Cornish looked far from it, knocking on when well placed far too often. A rare missed tackle in midfield off first phase saw Brighton add to their lead on 16, one offload all it took for one of the home backs to be over by the posts for a converted try, the Blues 12-3 up. With the exiles edging the game in the tight, and winning their fair share of lineout possession, the backs were seeing plenty of action, and on 29 minutes Kimmins was the architect of his sides opening try, darting through a gap on halfway, chipping the full back, them seeing the ball ricochet off a couple of defenders over the try line for wing Alex Gee to pounce for the try, Kimmins reducing the arrears to 2 with the extras. 3 minutes later, the visitors threw an intercepted pass inside the Blues 22, the Brighton player seemingly nailed on to score only to be superbly tracked and hauled down by Alex Hill. Incredibly, an identical passage of play but with roles reversed saw Cornish nearly take the lead on the stroke of half-time, Gee the recipient and him going deeper into the 22 before being shackled and the danger cleared, 12-10 the score at the break.
Gee, who was ill at the break, was replaced by Chris Smart at full back, Hill moving to the wing. Cornish opened with a great passage of play, no 8 Matt Chambers linking with lock James La Broy and prop Dave Theobald before the Blues were pinged and Kimmins regained his side the lead with another decent penalty. This seemed to galvanise the exiles, and for a period they dominated territory, Chambers, Eliot Cave, Tom Ievers and Homan to the fore as the visitors took it up the guts. However, the ball was lost at the base of a 5 metre scrum and the danger cleared. Coughing up ball inside their own half, the London 2 South-West Champs were the architects of their own destruction on 62 minutes, Brighton simpy executing an overlap to send their right wing away to round near the posts for a converted try. Mark O'Leary came on for Theobald at this point, but 5 minutes later he was under his posts, another turnover returned with interest for the robust home 12 to plunge over the line for another unconverted try. Once again, Cornish showed real resolve to force their way back into a game that had looked buried, another withering series of drives by the pack taking play deep into the Blues 22 before scrum half Rich Stephens angled his way over by the posts for a try converted by Kimmins, 24-20 now the score. With time running out, the exiles coughed up the ball while on the attack, and found themselves scrambling to save their bonus point. The Blues hammered away and finally, with virtually the final play, one of their forwards twisted his way over for his sides 5th try, the conversion hitting the outside of the upright and going wide, 29-20 the final score.
Brighton have moved above Cornish in recent weeks, and this win solidified their 6th position and ensures they will improve on last seasons showing. A decent rugby club on and off the pitch, both matches between the sides have been closely fought and we hope to see them again next season, perhaps at more than one level.
If there is one consolation Cornish can take from this recent run, it is that they are not losing by many when not playing at all well. There is no substitute for hard work in these situations, and the club will need to act as one to ensure the run is reversed.