London Cornish produced a storming second half to eventually see off Farnham by 51-27 in London 2 South-West on Saturday. The result eased the exiles 7 points clear of the chasing pack, and also served notice that the side is beginning to flex its muscles out wide having produced the goods in the wetter weather up front.

Forced into a couple of changes on the day, Sam Williams was recalled at 9 in place of the absent Rob Healey, and Ben Devonport was moved into the row in place of the similarly absent Ben Ievers. Both players enjoyed fine games. Playing away from the clubhouse end on the old first team pitch out the back of the REMPF, it took a mere 3 minutes for the home side to score, a Brading carry causing the damage and fly half Phil Dale dummying his way through under the posts for Josh Allison to convert. 6 minutes later, right wing Robin Heyman collected his own chip ahead and then forced a Farnham back to run the ball dead. From the resulting 5 metre scrum, Cornish inexorably drove the visitors over their line for Brading to claim his first try, though this was unconverted. Farnham served notice that they hadn't come for the day out when they scored with a fine backs move on 16 minutes, executing the resultant 2 on 1 well to score wide right, this too not converted. Clearly keen to keep the ball moving and to run even from deep, the visitors paid for their ambition on 26 when they were collared 5 out on their right flank. Harry Somers won the lineout, and it was Chris Anstey who benefitted from the rolling maul to crash across the line for a try converted by Allison. Back came Farnham with a penalty kicked for holding on 31 minutes to reduce the deficit to 19-8, but better was to follow 5 minutes later when their left wing, who had a fine game and was a threat throughout, ran through a series of weak tackles to cross for a converted try down the left flank. There was just time left in the half for Cornish to utilise their scrum dominance to win a central penalty, Allison notching it to leave the score at the break 22-15.

Cornish made a change at the break, giving a debut to free scoring back Jackson Szabo recently signed from Trowbridge, him on for Heymann. His impact was immediate. Devonport stole a ball on the floor on his 22, and when man of the match Will Carew-Gibbs flicked the ball to Dale, the fly half spotted a counter was on. Dashing up the right flank, he put Matt Hakes in space before he spun the ball to the flying Szabo just inside the Farnham half. The debutant hugged the right touchline to clear away from the desperate cover to score the bonus point try with his very first touch in Cornish colours, which Allison converted. Cornish made a couple more changes now, Mike Bond on for Tom Lloyd up front, and new signing from Barnes Matt Johnson on at 7 in place of Andrew Eustace. Farnham had a chance to reduce the arrears on 45, but their penalty attempt was pulled right of the posts and they were quickly made to pay for their profligacy. Brading broke from the base of a scrum on halfway, and appeared to carry a few tacklers with him all the way to the Farnham 22, where Johnson took the ball on further. When Cornish worked the ball right to left across the 22, Allison was the man to benefit as wing Rich Skinnard set him up, the full back crossing for a try he was unable to convert, but his side now 34-15 to the good. A Hakes run set up the next score, him driving into the 22 where Farnham were pinged for hands in. Dale popped the ball into touch and when Devonport won the lineout, Brading was on hand again to benefit from the driving maul, this one too unconverted. Dale created the next try on 65 minutes, his astute kick in behind on halfway scooped up by Szabo, who produced a fine in out to leave the wing and full back flummoxed to cross in a similar position to his first score. With the conversion wide, the exiles probably felt they could relax at 44-15. Farnham had come to play however, and with a battle of their own, were in no mood to be compliant. Twice they produced fine handling and decent finishing to cross on 67 and 73 minutes, the second of these tries converted. It would be churlish to be harsh on the exiles d, as this was the first bonus point try the side had conceded in the league this season, but it could prove a vital point for Farnham. A few stern words from Skip Dave Theobald saw Cornish up the ante again in the closing minutes, and when Craig Chatley and Johnson sent Hakes to the try line, it was only desperate Farnham d that held him up. The respite was short-lived however, as at the scrum Cornish repeated they earlier feat to drive the visitors over the line, enabling Brading to complete his hat-trick and Allison to bring up the half-century with the conversion.

Farnham were understandably delighted when they scored their bonus point try, rich reward for the enterprising and attacking way they played on the day. They have their destiny on their own hands, and on this form are certainly up to the task. It was good to see them come back to The Telegraph en masse, and we wish them well with their remaining games.

Cornish will be content to have landed the 5 points, and to have blooded a couple more very useful players at this stage of the season. This match will have reminded them that no matter where a team are in this league, you simply cannot switch off, and this lesson will need to be carried into the remaining games to ensure the challenge is kept up.