London Cornish turned in a mediocre 2nd half against a Horsham side who showed more bite on the day, the Sussex side deserving their return to winning ways with a 24-7 win at the REMPF on a day when heavy rain did not cease throughout, hence this somewhat abbreviated match report. While Cornish can point to a lengthy and lengthening injury list, there was enough experience on the pitch to produce more than they did on the day.
With fly half options Skip George Kimmins and Fin Robjohn absent through work, the last thing the exiles needed was Dan Phoenix to pull out the day before the match with a knock he suffered at training. This caused a wholesale reshuffle of the backline as everyone shifted in one, Sam Fieldwick trusted with the 10 shirt. For the 5th straight match Cornish were not able to field a tight head, Joe Lynch switching from the loose side to cover the spot.
With their opening attack Horsham landed a penalty for offside from bang in front, and within 3 minutes of the kick off, the visitors were into double figures when they worked room for their left wing to score wide left, the try well converted. Horsham continued to dominate these early exchanges, a strong and freshening wind at their backs and only sterling Cornish defence prevented them adding to their score in the opening quarter of the match, Adam Wheeler at the heart of much of the close quarter combat. Just as the exiles began to gain some control, they coughed up a penalty for holding on just inside their own half, the visitors kicker lifting his kick on the wind over the posts to extend the lead to 13-0. With incessant torrential rain falling, it was any wonder either side could play rugby of note but Cornish did win a penalty on 27 minutes, which they kicked to Terry’s corner. Though they won the lineout, it wasn’t clean ball and when they ball was worked into midfield the exiles carrier was pinged for crawling post tackle. 3 minutes later and the home side nearly paid dearly for their profligacy, Horsham working a move to send their right wing into space from deep only for a combo tackle by Matt Hakes and Jack Skerritt to snuff out the danger 5 out. Struggling to clear their lines in the remaining minutes of the half and ringing the changes to try and keep players fresh, Cornish were penalised for not releasing bang in front on the stroke of half time, the kick seeing the exiles turn round 16-0 down, Horsham good value for that lead.
Though well behind, the talk in the shed was that the game was still there to be won, particularly as the rain was falling more heavily when the teams emerged. An early error by the Sussex side saw their full back step back into his 22 and kick out on the full to gift field position to the exiles. Jake Slade’s arrow was true as James La Broy claimed the lineout. A series of breaks and mini breaks took play to 5 out before Andy Munro-Lott hit Fieldwick to deliver a well timed pass to Mo Alothman on a great line, slicing clean through to round the posts for a try converted by Fieldwick. Annoyingly for the home side, they very quickly gave 3 of these points straight back as they conceded a penalty for holding on just outside their 22 at the restart. The Cornish response was far too sporadic and demonstrated that the visitors appeared to want the game more, a good example being when Hakes countered from some way out to career into the Horsham 22 only to find no one backing him up and clearing out, a penalty for holding on the result. With note taking now impossible and the hardiest supporters retreating to the cover of the changing room area, there appeared little Cornish could do to increase their score hampered by a poor kicking game that saw a few kicks go out on the full or simply skid down the middle of the pitch. Munro-Lott and Rodda continued to probe for openings, but good big ‘uns always beat good little ‘uns and in the Horsham pack they simply had too many willing ball carriers compared with their lighter hosts. The concession of so much territory and possession was always going to be a problem as players tired and with Horsham having a policy of feeding their left wing at every opportunity, it only took one missed tackle for him to saunter over wide left for an unconverted try that settled the match at 24-7, 68 minutes on the clock. Cornish would have a couple more attempts to increase their total in the Horsham 22, but these foundered on a lack of clearing out as injuries further reduced their numbers in the pack. There was an element of relief for everyone when the final whistle sounded.
Horsham fully merited their win, having back up their improved showing at home to Welsh the previous week. They move up a couple of places in the fledgling table and will look forward to picking up more wins in the remaining matches in the run up to the Xmas break. Cornish simply need to see more of their big guns back playing – this means sacrifices have to be made in terms of training and match availability; sure, injuries are playing their part, but they do not tell the whole story; the week off is well timed!