A reinforced London Cornish team produced a barnstorming finish, which yielded 19 points in an 11 minute spell in the final quarter, to turn this match on its head and deliver a timely bonus point win, overcoming new opposition Dartfordians at the REMPF in London 1 South on Saturday. The win hoisted Cornish above their visitors from Kent, and with the squad further reinforced both by returnees and more new signings in the coming weeks, things are gradually looking up at LCRFC.
Playing towards the clubhouse end in the opening period and into a strong wind, Cornish were quickly out of the traps, Joe Donnelly continuing in fine form, arrowing between 2 retreating defenders to give his side the lead on 5 minutes, though the score was not improved. One aspect of the exiles game that has suffered from the enforced changes in selection has been the solidity of the team defence, and the home side gave up their lead a couple of minutes later when one of the visitors backs juggled the ball through a gap to score under the posts, point blank conversion made. Dartfordians pride themselves on their scrimmaging, but here they were up against an equally talented pack, and they were aghast to lose the ball against the head on 10 minutes, only for Cornish to concede a penalty for in at the side a couple of phases later. Instead, the Kent side were able to feed off errors from their hosts, of which there were plenty in the 1st half. One such was made on 15 minutes as the exiles countered from a kick, the ball breaking to one of the visitors centres on halfway to scoop up and have a clear run in under the posts for another 7 points. On 20 minutes, a Will Sheridan break took play to 5 out down the left flank, and as Dave Chalkley took the lineout, when the maul was downed hooker Jake Slade took a knock to the head, bringing George Shirlaw on for his debut in the back row, Sheridan moving to hooker. At the scrum, it was the exiles turn to be aghast, as the visitors prop simply paddled the ball back with his hands, unseen by the referee but allowing his side to clear their lines. Back came Cornish, Matt Hakes bundled into touch at the left hand corner flag after driving runs from Dan Leo, Harry Somers and Skip George Kimmins. Despite all the territory, the home side had nothing to show for all their pressure, and on 32 minutes they were made to pay. A deep kick on the wind from Darts bounced obliquely squarely into the arms of one of their backs, who had the simplest of tasks to draw the last man and send his wing over for a try half-way in to the posts, though the score not improved. Needing a moment of inspiration, Cornish were thankful for the all round ball skills of their Skipper. Seeing a wall of players in front of him on the Darts 10 metre line, he hoisted a kick down the right flank. The ball held up on the wind, Kimmins quickest to react, outjumping the visitors backs to regather, then haring down the right wing (pictured) to dive over for an opportunists try to double his sides score. Darts added to their score with a penalty in the closing minutes of the half, and few watching would have seen anything other than an away win on the cards, but that latest score had at least given the home side hope,
At the break, Cornish gave a debut to prop Guy Sullivan in place of Oli Low. They missed a chance to reduce the arrears with a long range penalty on 42 minutes, and a few minutes later fell further behind when pinged in front, the London 2 South-East Champions out to a 25-10 lead. Dartfordians grew in confidence now, throwing the ball about to try and force their bonus point score, but a huge defensive shift from the likes of Somers, Sheridan, Ian Dowie and Dan Leo held them at bay for a key 10 minute period. Having drawn their visitors sting, Hakes again embarked on a powerful run on 62 minutes, but though he was tackled inside the Darts 22 down the left side, the ball was knocked on as it was recycled. Encouraged by their break, on 68 minutes scrum-half Sam Vaughan weaved through a gap to pierce the visitors first line d. His offload was to Shirlaw, and now the new man demonstrated just why he could have such a big impact for his new team, breaking tackles on a rumbustious run deep into the Darts 22 before offloading to the supporting Sheridan to dot the ball down just to the right of the posts for a great team try. The conversion narrowed the deficit to 8, but the momentum swing had now begun. 4 minutes later, and as they threw a long pass across their backs on half-way, Darts were intercepted by the third new signing fielded by the exiles, wing Jamie Owen (late of Sevenoaks RFC), reading it perfectly and setting off on a piercing run before being collared 5 out. When the ball was recycled, Kimmins hit Dowie arriving from depth to power through the retreating defence for the bonus point try, the Skip adding the extras to leave the sides just 1 point apart. Cornish coach Corne Du Rand withdrew Dave Theobald at this point, Low back on, which was to prove a key call. Now with all the momentum, the home side countered from deep down the right wing, and as a Darts back came across to cover the breaking Jack Skerritt, the lad was very unfortunate to see his high (but not dangerous) tackle earn him a straight red card. With just a few minutes remaining, another Donnelly break was supported by the buzzing Owen, and when Vaughan went blind it was Low, who allies great hands with real power, to deliver the coup de grace under the nose of the referee. The conversion was not made, but Cornish now had a priceless 4 point lead with a couple of minutes remaining. Twice in those remaining minutes Darts attempted to roll mauls over the exiles line, but this was an equally powerful exiles 8, and when the visitors knocked on just 2 metres out, the game was up.
Dartfordians are another great addition to London 1 South, and it was a shame their coach driver didn’t share the same attitude of this passengers, as it would have been a decent post match whatever the result. The visitors will know the game could have gone their way, and will no doubt learn from the experience. We wish them well and look forward to our visit to Bexley in the New Year.
Cornish will be delighted to have landed this bonus point win, and with the impact of the new signings adding to a terrific all round comeback performance from centre Chris Smart, the portents are good for the run up to the Christmas break.