London Cornish paid the penalty for seeing 3 players yellow carded in 20 crucial 2nd half minutes at league leaders Tottonians on Saturday, during which time the visitors conceded the 20 points that cost them this match and any further interest in the London 2 South-West title. Cornish will rue the fact that they did not make more of their domination of the opening period, particularly as the Hampshire side also lost 2 players to the bin at various times in the opening 40. It was a shame that the liberal use of yellow cards resulted in 5 players spending time on the sidelines in a match where not a single act of serious foul play took place, and this detracted from what was otherwise a compelling match between the 2 best sides in the league.

Cornish played away from Water Lane in the opening half, and were quickly behind when the home side landed a straightforward penalty for offside in midfield. The visitors quickly demonstrated that this was going to be far from comfortable afternoon for Totts on 10, Ben Devonport and Jackson Szabo combining to power down the right flank before a penalty was won for not releasing the tackled player, but the attempt was hooked wide from out in front. Back came the exiles, and for the next 5 minutes they hammered away after turning over a Totts scrum until winning a penalty that Szabo kicked to 5 out down the left flank. Ben Ievers won the lineout, and Sam Williams twice hit runners to thump at the home d, before his delightful reverse ball found Ievers to crash over for a try just to the left of the posts, Luke Spells adding the extras. At the restart, as Ievers juggled the ball and then palmed it back to Williams, Cornish were harshly pinged for blocking, the kick converted to make the score 6-7. This was only a temporary respite, for 5 minutes later, and with the visitors playing their best rugby of the season, Craig Chatley, Tom Baker and Matt Johnson all made breaks to drive into the home 22, and when Harry Somers and Devonport took play to the home try line, the Totts 6 was carded for lying over the ball at the breakdown, this a surprising decision given the lad was stuck trying to get his leg free. Electing for a scrum, Cornish were equally surprised that the referee allowed a tactical front row replacement by the home side prior to the set piece given for the penalty, and then very frustrated to be pinged for feeding. The distraction very nearly cost the visitors, for when a quick tap and long kick took play into the exiles 22, and awkward bounce fed the onrushing wing only for superb work by Rich Skinnard to hold him up over the line, the danger cleared after the scrum when Will Carew-Gibbs won a penalty for holding. On 31 minutes, and with the home sides number restored, they knocked the ball on in the visitors 22. Cornish countered, Szabo skinning a man on the outside before releasing Robin Heymann away down the right. He stepped inside and fed Somers to carry play deep into the home half, Ievers linking with his second row teammate to break tackles and twist his way into the 22, Williams then flicking the ball to prop Mike Bond (pictured) to take a great line to dive over for another try converted by Spells. The try had come at a cost however, for Szabo was lying prostrate in his own half having ripped a hamstring, him replaced by Josh Allison. Totts were continually frustrated at lineout time as Ievers constantly won their ball, and their hooker took out his frustration by tackling a player without the ball following another Chatley break in the closing minutes of the half, the lad becoming the second home player to see yellow on the stroke of half-time. The penalty attempt fell short however, though few watching could argue that Cornish didn't deserve their 14-6 half-time lead.

Cornish needed to keep their intensity and discipline in the second period, but were stunned to see Somers binned on 41 when he went for an interception on half-way only, the referee ruling a deliberate knock-on. The player clearly knocked the ball upwards with upturned palms, and very nearly succeeded in catching it at the second attempt. With their tails up, the home side kicked the ball to 5 out, but when they went blind Johnson was on hand to drive the ball carrier into touch. 3 minutes later and Cornish conceded a penalty for offside in midfield, this one also landed to reduce the arrears to 5. With Somers now restored to play, a great exiles move on 56 saw Chatley twice involved, Skip Dave Theobald and Devonport taking play into the Totts 22 only for the opportunity to be lost through a knock on, though the exiles were aggrieved that the referee was twice in the channel between Williams and Baker. Within 4 minutes, Cornish were back defending and when Totts worked a ball across the visitors 22, Carew-Gibbs was binned for not rolling away, another bizarre decision given that the diminutive front row had fallen awkwardly in making a tackle and was trapped in the ruck. The resultant penalty was slotted and now Cornish were only 2 ahead, Tom Lloyd on in place of Bond in the front row. 3 minutes later Totts worked a rolling maul over half way and into exiles territory, the referee again halting play and this time binning Johnson for pulling down the maul, this award even having the Totts supporters scratching their heads as the main part of the maul was still up. Down to 13 and seemingly on the wrong side of the referee, Cornish tried all the could to withstand the pressure but it finally told when Totts worked the extra men to retake the lead on 68 minutes, the score converted and the home side sensing their moment at 19-14. Just 4 minutes later, they repeated the trick to score in the same place, this one also converted to move them out of one score range at 26-14. First one then the other binned player returned, but Cornish were now chasing a game in which they had looked comfortable with 15 players, and despite continuing fine work from Chatley and Ievers in particular, the home side held a high defensive line to prevent any further danger in the remaining few minutes, scenes of jubilation greeting the final whistle.

Through the season, Tottonians have demonstrated that they are the best team in the league, and though failing to register a bonus point at home for the first time this season, they ran out worthy winners of both this match and the league. We congratulate them on their achievement and hope that this is not the last Cornish have seen of them for a few seasons as both sides aim to play at a higher level for the first time in their histories.

Cornish will rue the cards, and whatever the reasons given will look at the 20 points they conceded when they had men in the bin. They need one further point from their remaining two games to guarantee the play-off spot, but 10 to maximise their chances of that match being at home. The brand of rugby played in the opening 40 here will surely be required to take them up, but they will also need to learn to be more clinical when dominant as the next stage in the sides development.