LONDON 3 SOUTH-WEST
19/04/08
KCS OLD BOYS v LONDON CORNISH

KCS Old Boys 10 - London Cornish 18

London Cornish produced a decent performance when it mattered most to secure 5th place in London 3 South-West, winning their final match by 3 tries and a penalty to 1 goal and a penalty. The win hoisted the exiles back to the highest position they have ever reached in the league structure, a feat they have now achieved on the last day in each of the last 5 seasons.

Cornish continue to be beset by injury, losing Aird, Purcell, Mitchell, Dodge and McVicar from the side who had performed so well the previous week. These injuries were offset by players returning from their own absences, Rod Petre returning at 7, Chris Milne at 8, Dan Pollard at 10, Josh Bartley-Smith at 12 after an absence of 4 months with a knee problem, and Matt Strover at 15 following his appearance from the bench last week. Not many sides will have used as many as the 53 different players Cornish have fielded to complete this league season, but as stated in previous match reports, there are many similarities between this season and that the club endured in 2005/6 in it's first at the regional level. The game began on an excellent surface and a good sized pitch in front of an expectant home crowd, bouyed by a celebratory lunch that had brought many old faces back to this stronghold of Surrey rugby. A very strong wind blew straight down the pitch and the home side would have this at their backs from the off. It did not take long for KCS to make this work, a penalty won with the opening attack giving them a 3-0 lead inside 3 minutes. Though Cornish were unable to kick clear of their lines, the back 3 of brothers Matt and Jim Strover, allied with the pacy Mike Harvey demonstrated from the outset that any loose kicking would be returned with interest. Gradually, bouyed by excellent work on the deck by the likes of lock Pete Calvert and open side Petre, Cornish started to move the game up the pitch. Pollard found willing runners at his shoulder to make the hard yards, former St Ives prop Ben Wheeler enjoying a seasons best performance right when his team needed him most. Cornish also began to pressurise the KCS scrums and clearances were scrambled rather than launched long on the wind. This territorial advantage was exacerbated by KCS failing to win clean lineout ball under huge pressure from Milne and Calvert. On 24 minutes, and after Cornish had built phase after phase inside the home 22, a rolling maul was driven up to and over the line wide left for Wheeler to claim a deserved score. The conversion was virtually impossible into the wind but Cornish had a lead they would not surrender in the match again. From the restart a now typical reposte by Petre saw him link with Bartley-Smith, who weaved his way upfield to half-way. Quick ball worked right to left and a chip ahead by Bartley-Smith saw the ball scrambled into touch on the home 22, the visitors now rampant. KCS managed to stop the rolling maul this time, but two more phases saw Pete Drewett and centre Keith Thompson drive deep into the heart of the KCS 22, and when the ball was worked left to right, there was full back Matt Strover cutting a fine line through the Old Boys defence to crash through and score wide right, the kick again having little chance to add the extras. At 10-3 up into the wind, the visitors were in good shape. Nearing the break, Cornish won another penalty down the right flank and kicked to the corner. As they worked their maul up to the line, it was halted. This time the visitors erred in spinning slow ball wide rather than turning it into quick ball, the opportunity lost when a knock-on forced the turnover. The whistle went with Cornish maintaining a deserved 7 point lead.

With the wind now at their backs, Cornish began the second period confident that a side on whom they had put 50 points in the reverse encounter would not be long in crumbling, but KCS had the massed ranks of their support to cheer them on and are an improved side from the previous encounter. Though Simon Wood, Skipper Mike Allewell and Wheeler were able to exert real pressure on their counterparts in the opening period, the second half saw the scrums more level. It did not take long for Cornish to add to their lead, Pollard slotting a penalty for offside on 44 minutes from left centre of the pitch. As has happened on a few occasions this season, Cornish eased off the gas and in this division teams not only sense it but have the wherewithal to do something about it. Using their own powerful runners, KCS now built field position and started winning penalties for a variety of offences. Cleverly angled clearance kicks by Pollard, Bartley-Smith and Thompson did relieve the pressure but the visitors could not work space for their dangerous back 3. With scrum half Mike Dardis exhorting extra effort from his pack, KCS sensed their moment. Winning a series of scrums inside the Cornish 22 on the hour mark, they nearly scored when one of their back row leapt across the line only to have the ball knocked from his grasp by a covering tackle in the act of diving over the line. A superb scrum on their own line saw Cornish drive KCS off their ball, Drewett falling on the pill to secure possession and lock Thornton Williams taking it on a hard yard to give his side some space. The final act of this game within a game saw Dardis launch a clearing kick to the delight of his pack. Though Harvey was a constant threat with his runs down the right wing, Cornish kept giving up penalties in this period, and when on 64 minutes KCS set up a maul of their own, they were able to drive over the line to score a vital try close to the posts, the extras added to reduce the arrears to 3. This was just the wake up call Cornish required. Bringing on Tom Jeffery for Drewett, the exiles now stepped up another gear, a gear their hosts could not match. Driving runs down the left flank by Jim Strover, Petre and Wheeler forced the ball onto the KCS 22. Dardis spun the ball left to right and a miss move saw the ball land in the hands of Harvey. Just as he was about to take off, his opposite number slipped and fell as if hit by a sniper, giving Harvey the easiest opportunity to run in and close out the match, the conversion attempt actually being pulled wide on this occasion. The remaining minutes of the match saw the return from injury of Nicolas Patte on for Petre, as Cornish dominated using the strong wind to play the game inside the home half. The game became scrappy in the final minutes, both sides having given everything in a season of fluctuating fortunes. Few would argue that Cornish were worthy winners on the day, the extra firepower out wide and a few more powerful runners in close being the deciding factor on the day.

These two clubs enjoy a fine relationship both on and off the field, the 2s result evening things up on the day. It is no surprise to regular readers of these reports that the hosts had pulled clear of the drop zone, the huge strength in depth they have demonstrated not only by the number of sides they field, but also the fact that none of them are easy to beat. Their facilities, players, supporters and committee are a credit to their County, and it is no surprise that they will host more prestigous events than this one in months to come. We look forward to seeing them again next season. Cornish have amply consolidated their position in London 3 South-West at the first attempt, 5th place a real achievement after the problems the club had in the autumn. The exiles 4 sides have all finished this season in better shape than ever before, the club looking to build further over the close season, the fine coaching team all set to be involved again next term. 5 new clubs will make their presence felt in this division next season, and Cornish are set fair to meet them!

LCRFC – Matt Strover, Jim Strover, Keith Thompson, Josh Bartley-Smith, Mike Harvey, Dan Pollard, Mike Dardis, Chris Milne, Rod Petre (Nicolas Patte), Pete Drewett (Tom Jeffery), Thornton Williams, Pete Calvert, Ben Wheeler, Mike Allewell (Capt.), Simon Wood. Rep not used - Rob Webster


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