Thurrock Thriller Goes Exiles Way!

A veritable humdinger of a match, which saw London Cornish frequently stretch their lead only to be continually pegged back by their visitors Thurrock, was finally won when the Essex side were forced into touch with the final play after a 22 phase assault failed to give them the chance to land the levelling blow. In a league where you can throw a blanket over the teams from 6th to 13th, there will likely be plenty more matches like this one played out in the coming months, and those unable to stall a losing run can quickly find themselves in the mire at the bottom. The neutral will not complain – there is plenty of entertainment to be had in London 1 South this season.
Cornish gave a debut to James Snape, the former Esher and Wimbledon forward, forming a giant back row alongside George Shirlaw and Dan Leo. In the backs, both Rich Stephens and Skipper George Kimmins were available, allowing Dan Phoenix and Sam Vaughan to play in their more accustomed positions in the backs. On a perfect surface, against a clearly improved opposition from last season showing, the scene was set for a tight match. Cornish played towards the clubhouse in the opening period, and it was Leo, who was to enjoy arguably his best game in the exiles colours, who launched the initial assault with a barnstorming run from deep inside his own half to deep inside the visitors, before Ts were pinged for an offside. Kimmins kicked to 5 out, James La Broy claimed the lineout, and the home side drove an unstoppable rolling maul over the line for hooker Will Murray to claim the try, though it was unconverted to leave the exiles 5-0 up with 3 on the clock. 6 minutes later, and after Cornish had driven the Essex side clean off their own ball in the tight, the home side won a penalty converted by Kimmins after it had slammed into the far upright. Thurrock have recruited well in the close season, and their new 10 has played plenty of rugby in the National Leagues. He it was who brought them back into the game following a poor kick chase, dummying his way over for a try by the posts he converted himself. When the visitors attacked again, Murray pinched the ball on the floor inside his 22, and when Jamie Owen won a penalty for holding from the clearance kick, Kimmins again launched a kick deep inside the Ts 22. This time, rather than roll the maul, Cornish launched a furious assault on the line with a series of battering runs, topped off when Prop Oli Low drove low and hard across the line for a try his Skipper improved. 8 points behind, Thurrock avoided falling further behind when a long range penalty flew narrowly left of the posts on 32. Twice in the remaining minutes of the half, Ts won penalties to earn them decent field position, and they fashioned room from a set line out ploy to send one of their forwards over wide right for an unconverted try on the stroke of half-time, Cornish 15-12 to the good at the break.
The first score in the 2nd half was bound to be crucial, and it was Snape who won it for his side, breaking off a maul on half-way to clear away to the Ts 22 where the visitors were pinged for hands in the till, Kimmins taking the lead out to 6 points on 43 minutes. Cornish upped the ante, and when the in-form Sam Vaughan launched a fine grubber kick to the visitors 22, it gave his side a great attacking platform. Stephens, Leo, Shirlaw, Low, Harry Somers and La Broy all made yards, before Stephens released Kimmins arriving at pace to sashay past a defender and plant the ball down just to the right of the posts for a try he converted himself, the lead suddenly out to 25-12, 51 on the clock. Back came Thurrock 3 minutes later, another poor kick chase gifting the visitors space wide right to saunter over for a well converted try. Cornish had to respond, and on the hour mark following another Leo break and Jack Skerritt carry, the home side worked a 3 on 1 only for the 1 to knock the ball away, very fortunate to escape the yellow, but Kimmins accepting the 3 points from point blank range to extend his sides lead back out to 9 points. Low was withdrawn for Jack Vosper to return from the injury he had suffered in the 3rd match of the season, Snape demonstrating his versatility to move to the front row. This last score seemed to unsettle Thurrock, for now they began to make a series of unforced errors when in possession, balls knocked on or thrown unnecessarily out on the full. They compounded the errors when they were pinged for backchat on 68 minutes, then marched back 10 for words to the referee. Cornish gave a run to Rory Stanyard and David Chalkley for Jamie Owen and Harry Somers at this point, the fresh legs well timed as this was a physical match. On 72 minutes, Leo picked up from the base of a scrum and broke a tackle, before flipping the ball to Vaughan. Arrowing between 2 retreating defenders, he stepped away and drew the full back before spinning the ball to Tom Havercroft just inside the Ts half. The only line that would take the flyer home for the vital bonus point, and probable match winning try, was the one he took, clinging to the right touchline as desperate defenders converged on him as he reached the corner, diving over in watery sunlight just as he was closed down (pictured). The score wasn’t improved, but at 33-19 and only 6 minutes remaining time was running out for Ts. However, the visitors were not done yet, and they produced a fine team try of their own, which went through 5 pairs of hands before the final pass sent their man over to the right of the posts for a quickly converted drop kick reduced the deficit back to 1 score. The 2 teams were out on their feet by this point, and it seemed the game was up when Stephens broke to take play to 5 out but the ball was lost just a foot short. When it was cleared, Cornish contrived to concede an accidental offside to give possession back to Thurrock, and the Essex side then launched a withering assault, which only ended when they were bundled into touch wide right inside the Cornish 22. A breathless match had gone the way of the exiles, in part for the fact that the hosts only conceded 5 penalties the entire match – both sides had 4 tries to show for their efforts, but Cornish had landed 3 penalties and these were to prove crucial.
Thurrock are a much changed outfit from last season, and provide a far greater all round threat, from their giant lock who could well be 2 lads stacked one on top of the other, through their agile 10, to their powerful centres and wing. They have almost as many coaches as players, which means they can count on support wherever they go, and they remain the decent bunch they were last season. We wish them well and look forward to the return.
This was a step up in terms of performance from Cornish, and with a phalanx of new signings to ally to their returning players (Will Carew-Gibbs and Matt Chambers made it successfully through their comeback matches), the coaching team may finally have some selection decisions to make!