London Cornish welcomed Old Alleynians to the REMPF on a mild afternoon, the pitch looking in decent nick considering the recent weather although very hard underneath as the man trying to put in the pitch side flags will testify. Only points difference separated these teams in the lower half of the league and it was likely that any victory would have to be hard fought.

Former skipper Rob Aird’s wedding had deprived the hosts of some of the bulkier elements of the pack (and the DoR!), which showed four changes from the previous week’s fine win at KCS, although only one change was required in the backs with full back Nick Harlock returning for Stefan Duda, who took a turn on the bench.

It was clear from the opening exchanges that the visitor’s somewhat lightweight pack was very well drilled and they caused problems not only at scrum and lineout but also with a dangerous looking rolling maul.

The first quarter was tight with Cornish dominating territory but unable to breach the visitors’ excellent defence, particular around the fringes, and the only thing the hosts had to show for it was a missed penalty from Luke Spells. Then, on 26 minutes, in a rare foray into the hosts 22, the OA forwards drove relentlessly down the left hand side tying in enough defenders to allow their outside half to saunter in under the posts. 7 – 0 to the visitors.

Cornish came straight back from the kick off and a series of forward drives saw the visitors penalized at the breakdown, stand-in skipper Spells striking his second penalty well to reduce the arrears to 3 – 7. The remaining 10 minutes saw the hosts’ forwards battering away in the visitors 22 but facing determined defence and guilty of not releasing any ball to the backs. Finally another Mark Osei-Tutu drive from the back of the scrum was halted just shy of the line and quick ball saw outside half Rich McKeown crash over just left of the posts. Spells added the extras and the referee immediately called the first half to an end with Cornish 10 – 7 to the good.

Cornish again started well in the second half and Spells increased the lead to 13 – 7 with a well taken penalty but the remainder of the third quarter was a different story with Cornish unable to get into the game. The visitors kicked well and often and pinned the hosts in their own half but were themselves unable to breach a determined home defence. A good break saw Spells add another penalty to take the lead out to 16 – 7 but on 22 minutes the pressure finally told and the OAs diminutive but elusive outside centre wriggled over to bring the visitors back into the game at 16 – 12, the important conversion missed.

Cornish now rang the changes. Hooker Tim Homan on for prop Oli Low, with George Johnson moving across to tight head, Phil Ridsdale adding bulk to the row with Tim Oakes moving back to No 8 replacing Osei-Tutu and the dangerous Duda on for Phil Francis. These changes galvanized the hosts, who looked more solid in the tight and more dangerous with ball in hand. Indeed, on the half-hour mark, a fine break down the narrow side by Homan, linking well with Duda saw the wingman hauled down just short of the line but able to release the ball to the supporting Harlock who dotted down wide right. The conversion was missed but Cornish were now out to 21 – 12 and dominating the play. George Johnson, in his last game for the club before emigrating to Singapore, then succumbed to a knee injury with Low returning at tight head.

Then, in the final play of the match good hands across the park gave Harlock a little space wide left and he again demonstrated what a fine finisher he is with a well taken try. The conversion was missed but left Cornish very happy with a 26 – 12 victory.

So the Christmas break at the halfway point of the season sees Cornish consolidated in 8th place and running into some decent form. With a settled backline now defending much better and a decent pack now getting back to strength with much competition for places, they are in a much better place than a month ago. Traditionally the side perform better in the second half of the season so we look forward to seeing what happens in 2013, that elusive four match winning streak now half-way complete.