Gradually, and with the return of a few key players, London Cornish are easing their way into this London 2 South-West season, this win by 3 goals and 3 penalties to a goal, 2 tries and 2 penalties lifting the exiles off the bottom of the embryonic table. With no injuries to add and more players both joining and returning to the fray, there is light at the end of the selection tunnel for the clubs coaching team.

Cornish, decked out in their brand new Betty Stogs sponsored kit, were finally able to call on fly half and last seasons top points scorer Rich McKeown, returning from an injury sustained in the last pre season match. With a debut given to lock Tom Stock, signed from Stockport, and recalls for Tom Jacob at 9 and Laurie Bridgett on the wing, many of the key components that made the exiles such an exciting side to watch were in place for the first time this season. On arrival at Totts Water Lane HQ, the visitors were delighted to find the paddock in excellent nick, and equally pleased to see a young exchange referee appointed for the match, as on a very warm day the refs fitness would be tested too! Formidable opponents on their own patch, this was the Hampshire sides opening home fixture in the league and large crowd had gathered on both sides of the pitch. Like Cornish, Totts had had to contend with a lengthy injury list and the loss of a couple of key players to higher placed clubs.

Cornish played away from Water Lane in the opening period and had to absorb a period of strong Totts pressure in the opening exchanges. The spell was finally broken through the first of series of turnovers won on the floor by the exiles open side Andrew Preston. Within minutes Cornish were on the attack, a fine rolling box kick by Jacob leaving Totts just feet from their line, but the home side kept their calm to clear their lines. On 9 minutes and with their first real attack with ball in hand, the exiles struck. Jacob, a livewire presence around the rucks and mauls, sniped from just inside the home half and showed a real turn of foot to clear away from the cover, draw the covering wing and slip the ball to the supporting Nick Harlock, who stepped the full back to score under the posts. McKeown added the conversion to give his side an early 7-0 lead. Frequently showing an aptitude to create an overlap, on 14 minutes a Bridgett burst saw Cornish piece together repeated phases until they were turned over on the Totts 22. On 19 minutes Totts kicked a penalty to the corner and set the maul. When their large lock broke toward the line, he was felled by the even larger Stock and then turned over on the floor by McKeown, then pinged for holding for the exiles to clear their lines. For the next 13 minutes the game became scrappy as two sides searching for form were hampered by errors and a lack of fluency. Finally on 28 minutes Robin Heymann countered from deep and his spring heeled stepping took him from his 22 to the home sides, where he linked with blind side Mark Osei-Tutu only for a loose pass to be picked off by Totts, whose outside centre then burst clear to set up a series of phases ending in them creating an overlap for their left wing to cross wide left, the conversion missed but the exiles cursing their inability to look after the ball when in an attacking situation. Buoyed by their score now the home side took control, the 13 a constant threat and seeming destined for another score until a superb Harlock cover tackle nailed him in his tracks just inches from the line, though the ball was worked back from left to right for the home side to find no one home to score wide right. This conversion was also missed but Totts were now in the lead at 10-7 and Cornish would need to score next to stem the flow. They got their opportunity on 36 minutes, Totts pinged for not rolling away at a ruck following a fine Andrew McEwen run. McKeown demonstrated just how much his absence has hurt the exiles with a fine strike to level the scores. However, Cornish handed the 3 straight back at the restart when they were pinged smack in front of the posts, the kick made and the score at the break 13-10 to Tottonians.

The home side were quickly able to double their lead at the start of the second half, the exiles midfield caught offside, the kick in front of the posts again and the kick made to make the score 16-10. With increasing dominance in the tight, Cornish were gradually preventing much quick ball reaching the dangerous home back line, and on 45 minutes loose head Mike Bond reacted quickest to fly hack a ball that had squirmed out of a retreating Totts scrum downfield. Stock pinched the subsequent lineout and the ball was worked to the increasingly influential Luke Spells at centre. He crashed across the gainline for the home side to transgress at the ruck, McKeown keeping up his 100% kicking record to reduce the arrears to 3. On 49 minutes Cornish produced their best rugby of the season, as Jacob capitalized on a strong scrum on half way to break the Totts defensive line. He timed his offload perfectly from right to left to the supporting Heymann, who stepped inside his man, before racing into the 22 and offloading to hooker George Johnson to gleefully dive over the line to the left of the posts for the score. McKeown extended the lead to 4 with the conversion. With confidence beginning to surge through all facets of their play, Cornish now took the game by the scruff of the neck, strong drives by Skipper Dave Theobald, no 8 McEwen and locks Stock and Phil Ridsdale gaining good field position on 58. Working the ball blind Ian Keith broke the gainline, hit Spells arriving at pace to draw the wing and then release Heymann, flying up in support wide left. Such a dangerous runner in these situations, the wing left the full back clutching thin air with a wonderful side step and raced over the line to round under the posts for a great team score. McKeowns conversion suddenly gave his side a 11 point lead at 27-16. The home side responded, working a move in midfield on 63 minutes for their centre to break a tackle and offload for the a score under the posts, the extras added. Cornish replaced Bond with Hamish Cuming at loosehead now, and he was quickly into the action smashing across the gainline on a trademark rumble. On 64 a Totts clearing kick had more up than out and was fielded by Johnson, who drove into the 22 where the home side were penalized for going off their feet, McKeown completing 6 out of 6 with the penalty and the score now 30-23 to the exiles. Cornish made 2 more changes now, former Skipper Rob Aird returning to action after an 8 month absence through an injury sustained in a league game last season, him on for Ridsdale and Tom Dorse on for Heymann. Totts were not finished however, twice piercing the Cornish first line defence from distance and seemingly set to score before two superb covering tackles by Harlock and Osei-Tutu snuffed out the danger when a score seemed certain. For the final 3 minutes Tottonians threw everything at their visitors, camping inside the exiles 22. Time and again they worked left to right and back again, the exiles defence holding firm, audible communication ensuring they numbered up, Preston finally snaffling a loose ball on the floor for McKeown to wallop the ball out to secure the win.

This was not a high quality renewal of this fixture compared with recent seasons, both sides suffering from a number of absentees. It will take time for the league to follow any kind of pattern, but don’t bet against Totts finishing in the top few as they return to full numbers. They remain the most hospitable of clubs, and the return match will see some serious damage done to the stocks of Betty Stogs bitter in the capital! For Cornish this match may prove to be something of a watershed. Though they have a few more weeks of the odd player being unavailable, this win should see confidence return - it will be needed; there are no easy games in this league!