London Cornish resumed their London 2SW campaign on Sat 7 Jan with a visit from old friends Tottonians. Both sides needed the points from this game; the hosts to keep them in the top half of the table and the visitors to haul them away from the second relegation spot. A fine afternoon greeted the teams with an excellent surface belying the incessant rain earlier in the week.

It was the visitors who started the brighter, quick hands and some poor tackling from Cornish resulting in only a desperate and illegal tackle preventing a score in the right hand corner. The ensuing penalty saw a catch and drive from the 5m line-out and the Toots pack rumbled over. The conversion missed but the visitors 5 points to the good after only 3 minutes. The exiles game straight back from the kick off and only 2 minutes later were awarded a kickable penalty for the tackler not releasing. However, kicker Luke Spells was astonished to find the Cornish replacement in charge of the kicking tee missing and a hurried kick from the ground was pushed wide. This penalty was the first of many conceded by the visitors, them seeming not to be able to come to terms with the referee’s requirements at the tackle area. Indeed another penalty around the 5m line was taken quickly by the exiles on 13 minutes and No 8 Simon Brading crashed over in midfield, the conversion by Spells a formality with the kicking tee now located. The next 20 minutes saw a stop-start game of little quality dominated by the referee’s whistle as the visitors continued to transgress. Unfortunately for the hosts, Spells was unsuccessful with two further kicks at goal. On 34 minutes the arbiter’s patience was exhausted and the visitors’ impressive 2nd row was consigned to the bin for another offence at the tackle area and the penalty by Spells was successful. The half time whistle came with Cornish 10-5 to the good.

While Cornish were left to reflect during the break that their territorial dominance had only resulted in a 5 point lead, the Totts coach took the opportunity to find out from the referee exactly what he required from his team in the second period. This proved to be time well spent as the second period saw some parity in the penalty count. Cornish loose head Mike Bond was troubled by a calf strain and he was replaced by hooker Will Carew Gibbs, in his return after 8 weeks on the sidelines, George Johnson moving to prop.

The second half started more brightly for both sides but it was Cornish who drew first blood after 10 minutes in identical fashion to the visitors’ initial score in the same corner, George Johnson credited with the try but the conversion from wide right again missed, the exiles now 15-5 to the good. For the next quarter of the game, the home side was in control in the tight but the visitors continued to look dangerous on the rare occasions that they were able to get the ball wide. Indeed, a number of the exiles looked as if they had been far from assiduous in their fitness work over the holiday. On 60 minutes, the home pack again rumbled forward and No 8 Simon Brading took on the visitors’ defence, crashing through for an excellent score, the conversion again missed. Finally, on 72 minutes, the Cornish backs found some cohesion and a fine flowing move saw outside half Graeme Smeaton crossing for the bonus point try, the conversion yet again missed. Cornish now 25-5 to the good. The final move of the game saw the visitors eventually get behind the home defence for a good try out right, the conversion secured and the final score 25-12 to Cornish.

This was a rusty performance from the exiles which was probably not difficult to predict after the extended break from both training and matches, but they were convincing victors on the day. Tottonians remain in relegation trouble but we hope that the return of some key players will enable them to climb the table as their players, officials and supporters are a credit to the division.