Phoenix Score Completes Rise from the Ashes!

For the second week running, London Cornish produced a barnstorming comeback that took a match to the final play, but on this occasion they came out on the right side of the result as they wore down visitors Windsor to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at the REMPF in Regional 2 Thames on Saturday. Free entertainment like this with a free programme and the word might yet get out that this league is one to watch!
Back on the 1s pitch for the first time in over a year, the game began on a sultry afternoon with Cornish playing towards the clubhouse in the opening half. The exiles had bounced back from a huge defeat with a win last season and knew Windsor would be out to show that they can compete in this new league – they certainly proved that here. The Berks outfit had most of the early pressure, which saw the home side lose a man to the bin for a high tackle on 10 minutes and only a Rich Stephens intercept in the shadow of his own posts on 12 minutes prevented an early score. Warming to their task, the exiles won ball on the floor through wing Terry Gillam, the ball worked to Mark Osei-Tutu to rampage into the Windsor 22 only for the final pass to fly into touch. On 19 minutes Cornish took the lead when Dan Phoenix picked off a looping pass out wide and sent Robbie Mackay away on the angle. He stepped inside twice to take the ball to the house, diving over under the posts for George Kimmins to add the extras. High tariff offloads saw Cornish butcher 3 opportunities in the next 10 minutes and this profligacy was brought into sharper focus when Windsor launched a huge rolling maul to crash over near the posts on the half hour mark. The exiles are not normally susceptible to these tactics but lacked some of their more experienced maul disposal experts on this occasion and were made to pay on a few occasions on this day. On 33 minutes Windsor worked an overlap wide left but frustratingly knocked on wide right with the line wide open. 4 minutes later and visitors took the lead when a repeat dose of the rolling maul saw Cornish concede a penalty try and lose a man to the bin into the bargain. It was a happy visiting entourage who greeted the whistle for no man, 14-7 to the good.
Cornish made a change at the break, withdrawing Mike McEwen, who is gradually regaining his match fitness and bringing on the tyro Charlie Bolton in the back row, Alex Davey reverting to last weeks role at lock. However, breath had barely been drawn on the half when Windsor struck twice in a red hot 5 minute spell of excellent counter-attacking and great support lines to capitalise on the extra man. First one of their locks tiptoed down the right wing before linking up with his backs to send the left wing scampering over for well converted score, then another counter saw forwards and backs again link up before the final pass was picked off his toes by their back row to dive over under the posts for the bonus point try, also improved. The visitors expended a huge amount of energy in these bursts and, with Cornish having the nudge on in the tight, it may well be that they simply tired in the remaining 30 minutes, but whatever the reason, once Cornish began their comeback, there seemed an air of inevitability about the outcome even allowing for the 21 point deficit. On 52 minutes the exiles launched a rolling maul of their own following a David Chalkley claim from an Oscar Cruz (on debut) arrow on the left. As the maul approached the line, the arch poacher Osei-Tutu broke off and spun out of a tackle to crash over the whitewash, the try not converted but the score now 12-28. Now Cornish were beginning to drive Windsor off their own ball and a warning short on 56 minutes saw Mackay bundled into touch 5 out after a Stephens break. An increasing influence on the game, Stephens was the architect of the next try, sniping round the fringes and reversing a pass to Bolton to show a hitherto unseen turn of foot, him planting the ball down by the posts despite the attentions of a last ditch tackle, Kimmins reducing the arrears to 9 with the conversion. Crucially, Windsor’s otherwise excellent kicker pushed a penalty attempt on 63 minutes, Cornish now removing Gillam for Pete Brogden to make his debut at 12, Kimmins moving to 13 and Phoenix to the wing. A further change saw Ed Fink on in the back row for Cruz, Bolton moving to hook. A Dave Theobald rumble broke the Windsor d on 68 minutes, Mike Edworthy spinning a miss pass to Kimmins who did the same to send Mackay away to arrow between 2 defenders and score his third try in the 2 matches so far this season, though the conversion attempt stayed wide, the deficit now 4. The pressure grew further on the visitors who began to concede penalties at an alarming rate. Nick Goss broke in behind with 7 left and Cornish kicked the ball to Terry’s Corner when a penalty was won. Pinning Windsor in with mauls then electing for scrums when the visitors transgressed again, it only seemed a matter of time before the exiles broke through again, but dogged resistance kept them out until the 79th minute when great hands along the back line and the interjection of Fin Robjohn to add the extra man saw the ball worked to Phoenix to round his man and plant the ball down for the winning score (pictured), this also not improved. The final whistle sounded as soon as Cornish claimed the restart and walloped it out.
Windsor had an understandably interrupted prep for this match and they certainly seemed inspired following the previous weeks thumping. Once they recover from their disappointment of losing this match they should take plenty from it, including the knowledge that they can compete in this new league. Thanks to them for honouring the fixture and for coming back to enjoy our unique version of post match entertainment, which they seemed to enjoy! We look forward to the rematch pre Xmas.
Cornish still have plenty of improvement left in them and it might take a few more weeks yet as weddings, marathons, holidays and work all take their toll on the squad. However, there are very encouraging signs on the recruitment front as word of the innovative one night a week training sessions spreads and for a club who traditionally start the season slowly this is good news indeed!