1st XV
Matches
Sat 13 Apr 2019  ·  London South 1
London Cornish RFC
1st XV
Tries: R Stephens (3), M O' Leary, M Chambers (3), M Hakes, J La BroyConversions: G Kimmins (6)Penalties: G Kimmins
67
24
Cobham
Cornish Run Rampant to End Season in Style!

Cornish Run Rampant to End Season in Style!

Dickon Moon16 Apr 2019 - 16:45
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https://www.londoncornishrfc.c

Last 3 matches see ugly, bad and good in that order!

London Cornish followed the 'ugly' home win over Chobham and the 'bad' draw at Hove, with the 'good', a thumping 10 try 67-24 win over Cobham in the final match of the London 1 South season at the REMPF on Saturday. In truth, both these two teams have used in excess of 50 players during the season, and on any given weekend could field a side to compete with the best, and one capable of shipping games like this one, and it was the visitors who slipped to their worst defeat of the season on this occasion, as a particularly strong Cornish pack put them to the sword. The result saw the exiles match their 8th place finish on their inaugural season at Level 6th, albeit with a greater number of wins (12) and a higher points haul (65) than last year.
In direct contrast to the previous few months, the exiles were able to field a disarmingly strong squad, particularly up front where the home side fielded a near first choice 8 for the first and last time this season. On a deceptively cold, sunny spring afternoon in front of a healthy last day of the season crowd, Cornish opened playing away from the clubhouse end and were quickly on the board. A George Kimmins penalty took play to 10 out in Terry's Corner, and after Dan Leo (pictured with the DoR and Skipper after playing his last competitive game of rugby) drove to 5 out, Rich Stephens was on hand to snipe over by the posts for his Skipper to convert. At the first scrum of the match, Cornish produced a huge surge to win the penalty on Cobham's put in. Kimmins kicked to the 22, Harry Somers won the lineout, Cobham conceded the penalty, and the Skipper took his side out to a 10-0 lead with 11 on the clock. Though producing the odd sporadic counter through their pacy left wing, the visitors had little to shout about to this point, and they fell further behind on 14. Stephens was the architect, his angle grubber scrambled into touch 10 out, again in Terry's Corner. This time James La Broy claimed Jake Slade's accurate arrow, and the exiles produced an unstoppable maul for prop Mark O'Leary to crash over for an unconverted try. Cobham needed a stroke of inspiration to get them back in the game, and their industrious no 8 was the man to provide it on 18 minutes. Shrugging off a tackle on half-way, he chipped ahead on the wind, the ball sitting up for the visiting left wing to pounce and dive over for a fine try wide left, it not improved. At 15-5, the game was now joined, and only a textbook Dan Phoenix tackle on 22 minutes prevented further damage. The trouble for Cob was that their scrum was coming under huge pressure, and it was to prove their achilles heal again 8 minutes later. Cornish won a scrum against the head on half-way, and when Chris Smart was high tackled, Kimmins kicked to 5 out from the left hand corner. Cob stopped the initial maul, but the exiles hammered away until no 8 Matt Chambers drove over 5 in from the touchline for the try, this one also not converted. Claiming the restart, the visitors took less than 30 seconds to respond, a forward sent through a yawning gap just outside the exiles 22 to canter over for a converted try to take the score to 20-12. Back came Cornish, and in the remaining minutes of the half they put their own yawning gap between the 2 sides. On 36 minutes, Chambers, Smart, La Broy, Goss and Matt Hakes all carried to take play into the Cob 22, where Stephens arced his run between 2 defenders to score the bonus point try under the posts, Kimmins making it a max. With 38 on the clock, Cornish won a penalty and elected for a scrum in Terry's Corner. Smart drove to 5 out, Leo to the shadow of the posts, and top try scorer Hakes was on hand to dive over for the converted try, his side now 34-12 to the good. With seconds remaining, Cob launched their own furious assault on the exiles line, but an unsympathetic pass struck one of their players heads and bounced into the arms of an exile to be cleared, the break called.
Any semblance of comeback plans Cobham had were thwarted in the opening minutes of the 2nd period. They knocked on a lineout following a fine Kimmins kick gifting Cornish a scrum v, at which the visitors were shunted backwards and over their line for Chambers to claim his 2nd try, his 10 adding the extras. When the Surrey side fluffed the restart, they nearly paid the penalty again, Hakes electing to field it and counter, and only a last ditch tackle taking right wind Ryan Webb into touch at the flag. It did not take long for the exiles to add to their tally however, for on 48 minutes Kimmins darted through a gap on half-way and chipped ahead. As Hakes went to gather the ball in the in goal area he was impeded, not once but twice, the referee having little option but to award the penalty try and bin the offender, the lead now out to 48-12. Fielding the restart, a now rampant Cornish side attacked again, Smart breaking tackles down the right wing, offloading outside to Goss, and inside to Phoenix, who sent Stephens away to land his hat-trick try, well converted from wide out by Kimmins. The home side brought on Dave Theobald for Oli Low up front now, the latter having enjoyed another decent day at the coalface. Webb went close again 3 minutes later, before a deliberate knock on inside the Cob 22 lead to the next score, phase after phase driving play to the posts before La Broy planted the ball over the line under the posts, Kimmins improving the score. This was La Broys last action, George Shirlaw on in his place, his side now 62-12 up. Cobham now engineered a period of territorial domination, hampered as they were by losing scrums on their own feed. On 62 minutes, and with their first red zone offence, Cornish lost a man to the bin. The visitors seized on the opportunity, breaking through to score a converted try under the posts a few minutes later, then landing their bonus point score when one of their locks added a great offload to a fine break down the left wing for an unconverted try. It was entirely fitting that the last score of the game should come from a Cornish scrum, Chambers again the beneficiary landing his hat-trick in to the bargain, though the conversion went wide. In the remaining minutes of the game, both sides had opportunities to add to their score but to no avail, and when Shirlaw snaffled a Cobham offload, the ball was cleared to bring the curtain down on both sides seasons.
Cobham went into the game full in the knowledge that they will be back at this level again next season, and it's clear they have suffered a late season injury crisis up front, so not so much should be read into this scoreline. The 2 clubs retain a decent relationship off the field, and battle will be rejoined again next season, to which we look forward.
Cornish end the season on a high, carrying a 3 match unbeaten run into 2019-20. The shape of the league could well be very different by then, with congratulations to Sevenoaks and possibly Brighton on their elevation, and commiserations to Hove, Chobham and Totts on their demotions. In their places come a strong trio in KCSOB, Beckenham and Horsham, along with definitely 1, and possibly 2 or 3 sides level transferred from London 1 North - this all depends upon the Play Off result, and Thurrock's whereabouts. All will be revealed in the next few weeks. Whatever the outcome, the Cornish coaching team will enjoy their first full pre season with the squad, which the DoR is in the process of growing in the close season. One man not playing next year is Dan Leo, who has hung up his boots with this match, and will continue in a coaching capacity only next year. His impact on the club has been huge on and off the pitch, and he deserves all the plaudits he gets for putting so much back into the game. Roll on 2019-20!

Match details

Match date

Sat 13 Apr 2019

Kickoff

14:15

Competition

London South 1

League position

8
London Cornish
10
Cobham
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Kit Supplier - VX3