1st XV
Matches
Sat 21 Sep 2019  ·  London 1 South
London Cornish RFC
1st XV
Tries: L Elliott, E CarneConversions: D Phoenix
12
44
Westcombe Park
Profligate Cornish Open Door to Park!

Profligate Cornish Open Door to Park!

Dickon Moon24 Sep 2019 - 13:47
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.londoncornishrfc.c

League Leaders need no second invitation to score tries in strong 2nd half show.

Despite a fine 1st half, in which they competed on even terms with visitors Westcombe Park, London Cornish were well beaten after they turned in a profligate final 40 to slip to a second defeat to one of the more fancied sides at the REMPF in London 1 South on Saturday. This should not detract from the excellent finishing skills of the 2 Park wings, as good as any to have faced the exiles in recent seasons.
On a bone hard pitch on a warm, dry, breezy day, Cornish opened up playing away from the clubhouse into a stiffening breeze. After early Cornish pressure following a James La Broy lineout steal, it was the visitors who struck first on 7 minutes when their outstanding and relatively unheralded left wing stood up his opposite number and the cover to cross wide out. The lad was to go on and score his second hat-trick in successive games, and his performance in this game suggests this well balanced runner could certainly go on and play in the National leagues. Though the visitors had territorial advantage for much of the opening quarter, they were hampered by a retreating scrum as the exiles trio of Jake Slade, Will Carew-Gibbs and Dave Theobald got on top of their opposite numbers throughout most of the match. On 13 minutes, Cornish launched a huge rolling maul following a Cam Crozier lineout catch, and when Matt Chambers drove on, only a last ditch tackle wide right prevented a score, the danger cleared by Park. On 17 minutes, an exiles lineout went awry, catching the home midfield offside bang in front, the Park kicker giving his side a 10-0 lead. It nearly got worse on 20, an exiles kick charged down and only quick feet from Dave Funston in reverse saving the day, though conceding a scrum V. When Park broke from the back of the scrum under the posts, they were held up, but Cornish lost a forward to the bin for offside, the visitors electing for another scrum. However, the league leaders could not budge their hosts tight v, and when the ball shot out the back of the scrum, Freddie Cruz pounced first before the visitors were pinged for a high tackle and the danger cleared. On 28 minutes a searing break by Slade down the right flank saw him take play from one 22 to the other, but when the ensuing penalty was kicked to Terry's Corner, the lineout was lost and the ball cleared. Park went close on the half-hour mark when a La Broy cover tackle forced the visiting full back into touch wide left, and when Cornish forced a knock-on following a great Cruz kick, they finally had decent field position in a central position. From the scrum, Tom Whelan joined the line and dabbed an exquisite grubber in behind, it sitting up for debutant Lawrence Elliott to gather and take the ball home for an unconverted try. The score galvanised the hosts, who now upped the tempo with less than 5 left in the half, Nick Goss shaking off tacklers to take play to half-way, then Dan Phoenix launching a subsequent penalty into the Park 22, where the visitors knocked on. First Ed Carne, and then Chambers took play to 5 out, but the ball was held up and a scrum awarded. Desperate scrambling defence forced the exiles into touch wide right, the whistle sounding on the half with Park 10-5 to the good.
Now playing with the wind at their backs, the exiles would have hoped to gain decent territory in the 2nd period, but they conceded a kickable penalty at the restart, and on 48 minutes saw the ball stripped and worked to the Park right wing, who hugged the whitewash to cross wide right for an unconverted try. From turning round 5 points down, now Cornish were 13 behind. This last action saw Cruz succumb to a cut, replaced by Colum Jordan at 9. On 52 minutes a decent exiles kick rolled to the top left hand corner of the pitch, seemingly with no escape, but a very poor kick chase opened up the field to a team who need no second invitation to counter in dry conditions, two passes all it took for Cornish to be under their posts. 6 minutes later, and a Park chip in behind stood up to be gathered by one of the visiting back 3, an inside pass sending his team mate clear for another 7 pointer, the bonus point secure and the game now surely up at 32-5 to Park. A double change for the hosts saw Theobald and Elliott replaced by fellow Cornishmen Tony Pellow and Sam Vaughan. One player whose form stood up throughout the match was Carew-Gibbs, and he once again made a difference winning a penalty for holding on the floor. A great passage of play followed with La Broy, Matt Hakes, and Carew-Gibbs all involved, before Skipper Ed Carne took a tap at a penalty and forced his way over to the right of the posts, Phoenix converting. The momentum swung back to the exiles for a period again, Carne at the centre of much of the good work, Park again pinged and forced to retreat. However, just as the exiles seemed destined for points, a high tariff overhead inside pass was picked off, a clearing kick completely misjudged, and another 5 points conceded. In the remaining minutes of the match, Cornish huffed and puffed, gaining territory but losing possession when it mattered most. It was completely in keeping with the 2nd half, that as the exiles attacked deep inside the Park 22 with an overlap beckoning on 78 minutes, a no look pass was picked off by the visiting wing to take the ball to the house for a converted try. When the final whistle sounded, Park were full value for their 44-12 win.
Westcombe Park stated their ambition in the close season with a series of high profile signings, and they have started the season well as they did the last one. They have finishers aplenty in their squad, and will present a test for all sides in the league on this form. We wish them well, and look forward to seeing them in the New Year.
Cornish also announced a raft of signings in the late close season, and there are yet more players arriving at the club. The difference is that some of these lads are returning to the game after an absence, and it takes time both for combinations to gel and for the coaching team to truly assess players levels. There is no hiding place in London 1 South, but the hard work is ongoing and the clubs stated aim remains to top the 8th place highest ever league finish of the last 2 seasons.

Match details

Match date

Sat 21 Sep 2019

Kickoff

14:15

Competition

London 1 South

League position

1
Westcombe Park
10
London Cornish
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Kit Supplier - VX3