Gallant Cornish Give Best at the Last!

London Cornish completed their 3 match run against title contenders with another competitive performance against Battersea Ironsides, only giving best with the last play of the game when their enterprise cost them even a losing bonus point. Though the result sees the exiles looking up from the foot of the table at the break, the consistent level of performance across these matches gives plenty of cause for optimism.
Playing on the hitherto unused 2nd pitch at the REMPF, Cornish opened up playing away from the clubhouse but were pinged for holding on in the opening phase of the match, though the visiting kicker pushed his attempt from a very kickable position on the 10m line wide of the right hand upright. However, Ironsides grabbed the lead on 10 minutes when a front row broke over half way and they recycled to send their left wing away to dive over wide left, the conversion attempt falling short. At the restart, the visitors were pinged for dipping into a tackle but the penalty attempt was pulled left. Cornish responded on 15 minutes when Mark Osei-Tutu, playing in an unaccustomed role on the wing, plundered his way into the 22 supported by a snipe by scrum half Fin Tweedie. The ball was carried on by Rory Ling and from 5 out Skipper Alex Davies was on hand to break a tackle and plant the ball over the line half way in from the left flank, Mike Edworthy giving his side the lead with the conversion. Though Ironsides were having trouble with their lineout, David Chalkley a constant menace on their throw in, they gained field position with a penalty for a tip tackle on 20 minutes. However, after they won a scrum 5 out a huge Robbie Mackay tackle in midfield forced a knock on for the exiles to clear. On 26 minutes the visitors forwards combined to take play from half-way to the shadow of the exiles posts and as they recycled a retreating exile tackled the ball carrier, him consigned to the bin and the referee making a bold call to award a penalty try. Cornish responded on 37 minutes, Oscar Cruz winning a penalty for a classic jackal just outside the visitors 22, Edworthy closing the gap to 2 points with the kick. However, right from the restart the home side gave the 3 back when they ran away from their support, became isolated and conceded a pen for holding on bang in front on their own 22, the Ironsides kicker making no mistake, the whistle sounding for the break a short time afterwards.
The opening 10 minutes of the 2nd period saw an error strewn Cornish gift field position to the visitors but hold their title chasing opponents at bay with staunch defence. On 50 minutes they did concede a penalty but the visiting 10 again pulled a very kickable effort wide of the left hand upright. A pattern was set, with Ironsides having possession but unable to break through and Cornish clearing their lines only to concede territory again with poor kick chasing or being isolated and pinged. A couple of changes saw Ling and Cruz replaced by Jimmy New and Conor Pearce as the heavy pitch took its toll on both sides. On 60 minutes Ironsides kicked a penalty into Terry’s Corner only for their front of lineout move to be spotted by Tweedie who intercepted. This precipitated the exiles best passage of play, a multi phase attack with forwards and backs combining to take play to the Ironsides 22, then winning a scrum penalty wide left followed by another in midfield for a high tackle, converted by Edworthy to close the deficit to 2 points at 13-15. In the gathering gloom the visitors sent a speculative kick into the exiles 22 on 73 minutes, it bouncing obliquely away from full back Alex Gregory, who did well to recover but who was swarmed by onrushing visiting attackers, the penalty conceded at point blank range, the lead back out to 5. With time almost up, Cornish attacked from deep, another multi phase effort seeing New, Ryan Abraham, Mackay, Matt Hakes and Pete Brogden all involved to take play into the Ironsides half. To their horror, a long pass was picked off by the visiting 9 lurking out wide to take the ball to the house by the posts, the score and conversion the final acts of the match much to the obvious joy of the Ironsides players and supporters alike, a game that had been on a knife edge throughout suddenly with a clear winner.
It's tough to guess who is going to emerge as the only side promoted from this division but Ironsides are certainly in the mix. You cannot discount any opponent in the league so it will not only be the matches against those other contenders that will be key but they are certainly in contention and we wish them well.
Though propping up the table just now, Cornish have no forlorn hope of climbing the table in 2024. With a couple of key players returning to action for the first time this season, it will also feel a little like having 2 great new signings to throw into the fray. It will be intriguing to see how this all plays out!