Two Try Mackay Sees Cornish Bounce Back to Form!

London Cornish threw the form book and league positions out of the window in registering their first try bonus point win of the Regional 2 South-East season against promotion contenders Reeds Weybridge at the REMPF on Saturday. The win hoisted the exiles up one precious place in the table, but perhaps more importantly saw confidence surge through the side for the first time in weeks.
Despite matches nearby being postponed, the pitches at the REMPF were in perfect condition with no hint of any frost, though the day itself was bitterly cold. All sides have to contend with injuries and unavailability in this league and, with an astonishing 10 front row unavailable, Cornish very nearly had to re-register former Skipper of 20 seasons ago, Truro born prop James Turnbull. Thankfully, another former Skipper Dave Theobald answered the call to step onto the bench despite not having trained or played all season since he has been enjoying a half-season hiatus as a new father. In the event, he was called into action after a mere 20 minutes and performed heroics to last the rest of the match.
The exiles opened playing away from the clubhouse and when an early Adam Wheeler carry up over half way pierced the visiting d, a blindside move sent Robbie Mackay fighting his way down the left wing. As the ball was recycled to Tom Carr, the visiting 7 got his tackle position all wrong suffering a nasty shoulder injury in the process, him replaced at the next break down, Cornish with a penalty advantage back just inside the Reeds half though the attempt fell short. It took 18 minutes for the games first points to be landed, consecutive penalties giving the visitors field position and seeing the exiles lose a man to the bin, then a maul splintering for one of their forwards to crash over half way in from the right hand touchline for a converted try. Clearly used to being able to attack wide from deep, Reeds went wide at every opportunity, but this was a strong Cornish backline up against them and they were well marshalled throughout. With tempers simmering throughout a very physical encounter, a flare up on 20 minutes focussed a few minds and this was the point at which Theobald entered for hooker Anthony Graham, Ryan Abraham moving to hooker. A few minutes later the visitors added to their lead with a penalty and for a brief period now Reeds had territorial dominance to go with their 10 point lead. Crucially, and not for the first or last time in the match, David Chalkley disrupted the visiting lineout to allow his side to clear their lines. On 31 minutes Cornish struck back following strong carries by both wings Robbie Mackay and George Bromage down the left. Ciaran Johnston spun the ball to Mike Edworthy who used his options as decoys to dummy his way through a gap, link with Johnston then see the ball switched inside to returning open side Tom Webb to canter over to the left of the posts for a try converted by Edworthy. Frustratingly, Cornish made a Horlicks of fielding the restart and gifted a penalty back to the visitors, who made no mistake from bang in front to extend their lead to 6. A few minutes later and the exiles were pinged again when a runner was isolated in a near identical spot, but the Reeds kicker pushed his effort wide of the right upright. With time almost up on the half, he would have time to make amends when the home side conceded another penalty, this time inside their 22, the visitors adding the 3 to turn around 16-7 to the good.
Cornish made a change at the break, Mark Osei-Tutu on for Carr, Davey moving into the row. Early in the 2nd half, an utterly dominant Cornish scrum on half way saw a penalty won, and this time full back Fin Robjohn stepped up for a long distance effort only to see his kick slam into the cross bar. When the visiting back fielded the ball he was tackled by the onrushing Fin Tweedie and the hurried clearance kick that followed was charged down. When their attempts to run the ball out of their 22 were foiled, Reeds kicked long only for Robjohn to return the ball with interest. Fielding a pass bounced along the ground to him on halfway, Edworthy made an incision through a dog legged defensive line and linked with Fin Tweedie on his outside, him drawing the full back to send Mackay away on his inside to take the ball to the house and round to the posts, Edworthy closing the gap to 2 points with the conversion. Now with the momentum, the exiles began making ground with every carry, Wheeler and Osei-Tutu to the fore. A sustained period of pressure saw great hands from Mat Hand (ahem) and Edworthy send Osei-Tutu through a half gap, him able to free his hands and link with Webb to arrow on the angle, him brought down 5 out to the right of the posts, where a visiting forward killed the ball. Twice electing for scrums and with another advantage, the exiles must have been very close to being awarded a penalty try, but when the penalty was given in the shadow of the posts, Tweedie took a quick tap and crashed his way over just to the right of the posts to give his side a lead they would not lose again in the match, Edworthy taking the score out to 21-16 with the kick and the home side making a further change, George Jackson on at 9 in place of Johnston. 5 minutes later Cornish won another scrum penalty inside the Reeds half, which was kicked to the 22. Davey claimed Abrahams arrow and the maul was set. It drove the visitors back before Hand took the ball on. Jackson sent the pass to Edworthy and his cut out pass saw Robjohn hit the line and send another cut out pass to Mackay still with a man to beat wide left. Straightening his line he beat the last ditch tackle and dived over for the bonus point try (pictured) to scenes of great jubilation, the conversion missing but the exiles now 10 to the good with 14 left on the clock. Having spent much of the half defending, Reeds now returned as an attacking force, penalties giving them field position, though they were hampered by a lack of penetration in midfield, Tweedie and Reuben Salisbury repelling all that was thrown at them all afternoon. Eventually, they did score again when a forward broke blind unseen from a maul to twist his way over, their kicker reducing the arrears to 3 with 7 left. In the gathering gloom and after a few minutes played out in midfield, the visitors attacked Terry’s Corner again in the last few minutes, but their maul was downed 5 out forcing them to recycle. This they did and had an advantage wide right on the 22, which this time they elected to tap. Stringing 10 phases together inside the Cornish 22 they were met with stoic and unbreaking resistance until eventually knocking the ball on wide left for the final whistle to sound.
Reeds bring plenty of vocal support with them and the largest coaching entourage seen in these parts for many a season. Their predominantly young side play a decent all court game and a quick glance at the league table demonstrates where they need to improve to make a sustained challenge at this level as they have the lowest number of try bonus points in the division alongside Sidcup. It was a shame that none of their coaches or players were able to come to the post match where we had laid on pasties and beer for them and we hope that they will have an opportunity to redress that again next season.
This was as vital a win as it was unexpected but Cornish were well worth their 5 points on the day. Able to select a more balanced squad certainly helped as did the gradual improvement in the teams set piece over the last few matches. Half way through the season now and two more tough matches to the break, but this performance is a great base from which to build!