Battling Exiles Provide Reasons to be Cheerful!

Despite a strong performance throughout this match, London Cornish eventually succumbed to Battersea Ironsides at their Burntwood Lane HQ in Regional 2 South-East on Saturday. The home side retained their 100% record with 2 late tries to put a gloss on a game they had struggled to dominate for the most part as the exiles made light of the fact that they continue to play with many of the squad at the RWC forcing them to continue to blood new players and give opportunities to lads who might otherwise not have played at this level, none of whom looked out of place.
On a warm, breezy day on a bone hard school pitch with the smallest posts likely to be seen in the league (and if you haven’t been before, also the smallest changing rooms), Cornish opened playing away from the school. Early forays by both sides came to nought and it was a surprise when the first score came, Ironsides smuggling a ball out of a tackle unseen to provide a clear run to the line for one of their forwards to land a converted try on 10 minutes. With early dominance in the tight, the visitors responded 5 minutes later when, from a scrum inside the home 22, George Jackson worked the ball to Tom Webb to burst a tackle and crash over for a try converted by Mike Edworthy. Following an early warning, the exiles lost a man to the bin for a high tackle a few minutes later and were made to pay the price on 25 when the home side sent a runner over to the left of the posts, this also improved. Cornish responded well, Kieran Rodda and Reuben Salisbury combining to send play deep into the Is 22 but a key lineout was lost and the danger cleared. In the next passage of play the exiles produced another great attack, Nathan Smith and Adam Wheeler crashing into the 22, but when the ball was recycled in front of the posts Rodda dislocated an elbow, the referee on hand to stop play immediately, the Falmouth man replaced by former Ivybridge RFC wing Alex Gregory. In the remaining minutes of the half, Cornish continued to attack, Smith stealing a lineout to help his side set up camp and then the exiles winning a scrum penalty but electing to run it rather than take the points, the ball lost forward for the whistle to sound for the break, Ironsides 14-7 to the good.
The opening 10 minutes of the 2nd half were scrappy, defences on top in the main. However, on 52 minutes the exiles lost a second man to the bin, this time for tackling a player within 10 of a tap and go. Ironsides were beginning to show their frustration at not being able to score as freely as they had in their opening couple of games and began to force the game, knocking the ball on in midfield and throwing forward passes, the combo of Dan Phoenix and Salisbury up in the faces of their opposite numbers. Cornish rang the changes, Ed Fink replaced by Will Drake and Jimmy New by Mat Hand, the tackle count increasing as the visitors lineout malfunctioned. On 58 minutes Ironsides produced a decent series of phases but the attack was halted by George Bromage winning a penalty inside his own 22 for holding on. Two minutes later the home side returned and won a penalty, their concern highlighted by them taking the 3 on offer. Within seconds Cornish forced a knock on just outside the home 22, but frustratingly a final pass out wide flew into touch rather than to its intended recipient. Jackson was next to win a penalty as another home runner became isolated and a high tackle gave the exiles the chance to narrow the gap on 67 minutes. Despite both tough judges (assistant referees my *rse!) awarding the kick, the referee disagreed so the gap remained 10 points. This seemed to deflate the visitors and within 5 they had conceded a third try when a rare couple of missed tackles saw Ironsides cross wide right for an unconverted try. Suddenly sensing the bonus point the Surrey side upped their game, Ben Boorman typically producing a fine last ditch tackle to end one attack. However, the inability to win lineout ball in the 2nd period meant the exiles couldn’t clear their lines and the home 10 needed no second invitation, dummying his way over under the posts with just a couple of minutes left, the conversion taking the lead out to 29-7. In the last 60 seconds Ironsides finally lost a man to the bin and Cornish took advantage, a Rory Ling carry setting up a move down the narrow side for Edworthy to send a long pass to Bromage, him stepping his man to take the ball to the house wide right, the missed conversion the final act in the match.
Battersea have clearly taken plenty from their successful Cup run last season and have some great experience from higher levels in their squad. They will be a tough team to top at the level and seem set for another good season – we wish them well and look forward to the return before Christmas.
Cornish really did show up for this one as they have all of their matches so far. They really aren’t too far from seeing things click and have now given 9 debuts amongst the 31 players used in the 3 league games to date – as ever with the exiles, the longer the season goes on the stronger you suspect they will become!