Cornish Battle Back to Beat Beaconsfield!

A 6 try salvo by London Cornish saw them ultimately stave off a robust challenge from Beaconsfield in a pulsating match to land back to back bonus point wins in Regional 2 Thames at the REMPF on Saturday. The win lifted the exiles up to a respectable 7th place in the table and moved them further away from the 2 relegation spots.
The game began on a perfect playing surface on an overcast, dark day with the exiles playing towards the clubhouse in the opening period. These two squads bore little resemblance to the ones that had faced each other early in the season, only 7 of the 18 on duty for Cornish that day on duty here. Beaconsfield have undergone a marked transformation too and have become the largest team the exiles have faced this season with a significant number of powerful ball carriers in their side from 1-10. The visitors began the game with real venom and attacked repeatedly until they deservedly finally broke through to score under the posts for a converted try on 6 minutes. 5 minutes later they added to their score with a penalty from point blank range and they were full value for their 10-0 lead, perhaps even ruing the fact they were not further ahead. Having barely had an attack of note in the opening period, Cornish struck with their first foray into Beaconsfield territory on 12 minutes. The initial incision was made by Robbie Mackay, who joined the line from a scrum and exchanged passes with fellow wing George Bromage to send the latter over on the far right wing, George Kimmins improving the score with a fine touch line conversion. This score seemed to galvanise the home side and on 20 minutes they took the lead. Mike Edworthy launched a penalty to just inside the visitors 22 and Will Carew-Gibbs arrow was true (Carew-Gibbs won his 2 Player of the Year awards at Cornish when playing as a hooker but has moved to the back row in the past few seasons); Tom Carr snaffled the lineout and Cornish sent the maul moving inexorably and at pace toward the B’s line, where it was pulled down by one of their number, penalty try awarded with a yellow card for the miscreant, the exiles now 14-10 ahead. Though missing a kickable penalty on 23 minutes, the visitors responded again, using their phalanx of powerful runners at the home d. Eventually they had their reward just after he half hour mark when one of their lads found a hole and angled his run away from the cover to cross 10 in from the left hand flank, the conversion good and the lead back with the Bucks outfit. Bromage had taken a knock to an arm in this passage of play and Cornish took no chances, withdrawing him for Fin Robjohn to come on at full back, Ben Boorman moving to the wing. A pivotal passage of play in the run up to the break saw Beaconsfield win a couple of penalties and drive to the shadow of the posts, where an exile front row was binned for hands in the till. Electing for the scrum forced Cornish to withdraw a back row to bring on Ryan Abraham to complete the front row but despite the man advantage the visitors could not shift the home pack, then went wide only to be pinged for holding on, the whistle sounding for the break when the home side nudged the subsequent penalty into touch.
An early sortie by Beaconsfield at the start of the 2nd half was halted by an interception 5 out by Jimmy New, who enjoyed a fine full debut at loose head. Though the ball was cleared it was returned to the 22 and as it squirted out on the visitors side, Boorman seized the opportunity to pinch the ball. Racing up the short side he linked with Robjohn who in turn fed Kimmins on his outside. As the exiles Skipper was closed down he produced a wonderful show and go to buy himself enough time and space to clear away and take the ball to the house 10 in from Terry’s Corner. Though unable to add the conversion, the try at least gave his side back the lead at 19-17 a mere 5 minutes into the 2nd half and for a period this score seemed to really unsettle Beaconsfield. When Ed McCord claied the restart, he worked the ball to Mike McEwen who was hit by a high tackle to give the exiles field position again, which Cornish would not give up for period now. Gradually gaining the ascendancy in the tight, Cornish now began winning ball against the head, Dave Theobald again enjoying a fine day against the visiting loosehead and Carew-Gibbs a past master at taking ball this way. On 50 minutes one such win against the head set up a counter, Mackay kicking ahead for Jackson and Mark Osei-Tutu to scrag the Bs retriever before the ball was knocked on close in. However, at the scrum the exiles again took the ball against the head and this time a rewind sent Mackay into space to dive over wide left, the try not converted. 3 minutes later, Edworthy launched a long kick right to left to win a 50/22. Carr claimed WCG’s lineout and the maul was set before Osei-Tutu broke from the back and planted the ball over the line for his sides 5th try (pictured), the conversion added by Kimmins, the score suddenly out to 31-17. Though missing a penalty on the hour mark, the exiles were back for more on 66, a McEwen carry getting the ball over half way before quick hands through Pete Brogden and Boorman gave Mackay the chance to step inside and reach over for another 5 points. This brought changes for the home side, Francis Birch and Ryan Abraham on for Pearce and New, though Pearce was to return a few minutes later to give McEwen a break. In the remaining 6 minutes the visitors played much as they had in the opening 10, battering away at the Cornish d until they found room wide right to squeeze a wing in at the flag on 74, not improved. Sensing a chance to land 2 bonus points, they attacked again but were turned over, Cornish countering and Robjohn opening them up with a fine dummy only to trip over his own feet with the line at his mercy. Cornish elected not to kick a last play penalty into touch but they were turned over as they ran the ball. To their great credit the visitors came back again, piecing together phase after phase until they again sent a man over for their bonus point try, the conversion landing them the 2nd bonus point their performance had certainly merited.
Beaconsfield are in the mother of all battles at the bottom with a few other sides in the mix to avoid being one of the 2 to go down. They have to play a few of them in the closing weeks and though these may appear to be the key games for them, they give every side they play a physical test in their quest for points. We wish them well in their battle and hope to see them again next season.
For the second week running Cornish have taken the max and continue to jointly lead the league in bonus points won. Whilst still not mathematically safe, the improvement week on week suggests the winning hasn’t ended here and they will be a dangerous side to play in the closing weeks as their depth continues to return!