LONDON 3 SOUTH-WEST
03/11/07
LONDON CORNISH v ANDOVER

London Cornish 33 - Andover 3

The Cornish resurgence continued in style at the Richardson Evans Memorial Playing Fields on Saturday when the exiles produced their best performance of the season so far to comprehensively outplay Andover, a side narrowly relegated from London 2 South last season who had come into the fixture in good form. The win was achieved by 2 goals, 2 tries, and 3 penalties to 1 penalty in a game Cornish could well have won my a more significant margin.

With the injury list gradually subsiding, Cornish only made 2 changes from the side successful in the league the previous week, Ben Shribman coming into the row in place of the injured Jay Stirrett and Chris Milne making his full League debut in place of the unavailable Will Ho. There was also a place on the bench for the talismanic former Portuguese international Manuel De Mello, who will be eased back into things over the next couple of months. In perfect conditions on arguably the best surface in the division, the portents for a decent game of rugby were present. Andover have some big units in their pack and from the off mixed up inside passes from their 10 with pick and drives around the base of the ruck and maul. Though they had an initial period of pressure it was Cornish who settled the better, twice winning kickable penalties on 12 and 17 minutes both of which slid across the face of the posts. However, though the lineouts were evenly matched and though it took 9 minutes before there was a scrum, the exiles pack were exerting great pressure on the visiting scrum, forcing their combative 8 to clear up a fair amount of ball. Eventually, the pressure told and Cornish won another penalty on 24 minutes, fly half Dan Pollard making no mistake to give his side the lead. What followed will be talked about for a while by those watching. The restart was fielded by prop Andy Renner, who broke the first tackle on the Cornish 22 and drove upfield. He offloaded to Milne appearing at pace on his shoulder who sprinted between two backtracking defenders over halfway and then passed outside to Skipper Mike Allewell. Allewell drew his man and popped the ball outside again to lock Pete Calvert in support. He drew the full back before passing to wing Mike Harvey who took on his man on the outside and seared clear to score out wide. A team score of the highest quality for an increasingly confident home side, playing as they were in their new change strip of gold with narrow black hoops. The difficult conversion slid narrowly wide but Cornish had now attained an 8-0 lead. A feature of this improved Cornish showing has been the form of scrum half Mike Dardis, and it was he who fashioned the next Cornish score on 31 minutes when, again under pressure from the Cornish tight 5 at a scrum, the ball squirted out the back door of a wheeling, retreating Andover pack. Dardis was first to react, poouncing on the ball down the narrow side and away between covering defenders before slipping a pass outside to open side Rod Petre to dive over the whitewash out wide. The conversion attempt slammed into the upright so though the home side had dominated the opening half hour, they were only 13-0 up. Andover finally worked some field position right on the half time whistle, winning a penalty for offside within kicking range. Their 10, whose huge boot had helped them clear their lines under pressure on a number of occasions in the opening period, drove his kick between the sticks to give his team some encouragment at the break, the score 13-3 to the exiles.

The opening score of the second period was always going to be important, and after wing Jim Strover cut a fine line through the Hampshire sides backs, a penalty was awarded for an Andover forward going off his feet at the ruck. Pollard, having missed a number of far easier kicks in the opening period, now found his range from way out on the left flank to ease his side out to a 16-3 lead after 44 minutes. Though the visitors did gain first phase ball, they could gain no penetration through their backs and were often forced into chasing their kicks to try and get into Cornish territory. These kicks were returned with interest and on 52 minutes, the exiles scored again. Playing a multiphase, fast, attacking brand of rugby Cornish worked the ball from left to right across the pitch from halfway. Harvey drove infield inside the Andover 22 and when the ball was recycled a pop pass put Renner in some space. The powerful American smashed through the cover defence and drove over the line near the posts carrying a couple of defenders with him. Pollard converted and the lead was extended to 23-3. Now hooker Will Carew-Gibbs started winning balls against the head reducing the first phase ball available to Andover even further. Twice Cornish went close to adding to their score in the next 10 minutes, once when centre Graham Dodge intercepted a pass on the left flank only to sprint clear and be tap tackled within sniffing distance of the tryline, and the other occasion when Harvey and Dardis combined down the right only for the ball to be smuggled clear by desperate visiting defence. Cornish now brought on De Mello for Shribman in the row and Adam McVicar for the excellent Dardis at 9. On 64 minutes cnetre Henry Mitchell drove up into midfield for the visitors to again be caught offside at the ruck. Pollard exacted full retribution with the penalty, the lead now 26-3. This all proved too much for the visiting 8, who blotted an otherwise decent afternoons work by getting himself sin binned for a few too many comments. Cornish drove the penalty to the corner and from the lineout drove over the line, Carew-Gibbs certain he scored only for the otherwise excellent referee to deem the ball held up. A loose pass later and the danger was cleared. Pete Drewett now came on for Petre, who had again shown what a dangerous broken field runner he can be with an alarming turn of pace for a 7! Back came the home side again, Strover again working the narrow side with good support from prop Ben Wheeler. The ball was worked from left to right deep inside the visiting 22 only for Dodge now to be deemed held up over the line in the shadow of the posts. Andover can take a huge amount from their defence in this period, no one shirking tackles and their organisation staying strong. Finally, on 79 minutes, Pollard worked a miss move that saw Harvey appear at pace from the opposite wing and he switched with full back George Bramble on an in-out line, brushing off the last tackle to dive over way out on the left flank. Pollard made it 4 from 4 in the second half with his pinpoint conversion and Cornish had their first back to back wins in London 3 South-West in their first ever foray into this level!

Andover are a big side who are seeking to consolidate after their relegation last season. They never gained a real foothold in this match and will rue the fact that they are playing Cornish at a time in the year when the club traditionally steps up a few gears. They were a decent bunch back at the Telegraph after the game and we wish them well prior to our rematch on the other side of the New Year. By common consent, this was as complete and exciting a performance as any from Cornish in the last few seasons of winning rugby. The team will know that they need to me more clinical to win matches against sides in the top half of the table, but giant strides are being made and with all 4 teams winning on Saturday, the near future at Cornish continues to be very bright.

LCRFC – George Bramble, Jim Strover, Graham Dodge, Henry Mitchell, Mike Harvey, Dan Pollard, Mike Dardis (Adam McVicar), Chris Milne, Rod Petre (Pete Drewett), Mike Allewell (Capt.), Ben Shribman (Manuel De Mello), Pete Calvert, Ben Wheeler, Will Carew-Gibbs, Andy Renner.

4 sides out again tomorrow with the 1s heading the very short distance to Old Wimbledonians in London 3 South-West. Will let you all know how it goes..! Good luck v Lydney - proper old school rugby club there and wont go down without a fight up front, sometimes literally!

Best of luck tomorrow Dickon to all 4 sides.

Mid table and climbing, looking quite good now Dickon, if you could only get off to a good start to a season the team could do very well I’m sure.

L.C.14-3 up at Half time.

Final Score please.

Final score was 13-33 to London Cornish. Competent performance without ever really setting alight winning by 5 tries to 1. Full report tomorrow.

Nice one Dickon.

Another good win for LC.Well done boys.  

LONDON 3 SOUTH-WEST
10/11/07
OLD WIMBLEDONIANS v LONDON CORNISH

Old Wimbledonians 13 - London Cornish 33

London Cornish produced enough quality on the day to win this game by 4 goals and a try to a goal and 2 penalties as Old Wimbledonians failed to turn possession into points at their Coombe Lane HQ on Saturday. Whilst not hitting their straps for long periods of the game, the exiles will be happy to have recorded a third straight victory in London 3 South-West in this, their first ever season at this level.

Cornish only made 1 change from the side who had defeated Andover the previous week, James Turnbull playing at lock in place of the injured Ben Shribman. Old Wimbledonians changing rooms rank as the smallest and most inadequate your correspondent has witnessed in his time with Cornish, all 18 players, 2 coaches and a physio crammed into a space barely big enough for half that number. With a strong wind blowing slightly against them in overcast conditions on a fine surface, Cornish demonstrated their new found confidence with their very first attack on 4 minutes, fly half Dan Pollard linking with wing Mike Harvey to cut in from the right flank and score to the right of the posts, the extras added by the same player. Seemingly lapsing into the old habits of last season, the visitors then coasted for the next 15 minutes, allowing Wimbledonians to dominate both possession and territory. They have a decent scrum half and an inside centre who knows only one way (but does it well), supported by a willing back row who worked overtime to keep hold of the ball. Unable to drive Cornish back at the maul and under huge pressure in the tight, the issue for OW's was that no matter how much possession they had, they simply did not possess the weaponary to break the visitors down. They gained a penalty on 12 minutes slotted by their 15 but with Cornish playing a classic counter attacking game, the home side looked susceptible every time their visitors pieced together a few phases of rugby. On 22 minutes Cornish won a ball in their 22 for Harvey to kick upfield and find the home full back out of position. The covering wing was turned over on the home 22, the ball quickly reycled for prop Andy Renner to drive on and offload to no 8 Chris Milne, who streaked away from the cover to score to the right of the posts. Pollard converted and Cornish were out to a 14-3 lead. This was the signal for Cornish to switch off again, content to soak up pressure from OW's and hit them on the break. However, with a number of the OW kicks uncharacteristically spilt and with a growing lack of understanding of the referee's interpretation at the breakdown, the visitors were making life very hard for themselves. Their cause wasnt helped when Skipper Mike Allewell was concussed to be replaced by Will Ho. However, on 36 minutes the exiles built a series of phases to break just outside the OW 22. As centre Graham Dodge hit a gap, he was poleaxed by a high tackle from the home full back, whose indiscretion cost him a 10 minute holiday. The half ended with Cornish hammering away in the shadow of the Wimbledonians posts, the visiting scrum now beginning to drive the home side off their own ball, the score at the break 14-3 to Cornish.

Down to 14 men and now playing into the wind, it was surprisingly Wimbledonians who came out firing at the start of the second period and within 2 minutes they had their reward when they fashioned some room for one of their backs to cut in from the right and score under the posts, the conversion reducing the arears to 14-10. Restored to 15 men and with their visitors now getting pinged for penalties seemingly at every breakdown, a surge of renewed confidence spread through Wimbledonians. On 47 minutes they won a penalty bang in front of the posts on the Cornish 22 only for their kicker to horribly pull the kick wide of the posts. No matter, for within 2 minutes he had another chance from the identical spot and this time made no mistake, narrowing the gap to 14-13. Worse was to follow for Cornish for they lost a forward to the bin for persistent team infringements at the breakdown on 50 minutes. It will come as no surprise to seasoned watchers of Cornish sides that the visitors were still able to exert massive pressure on the home scrum even though reduced to a 7 man pack! Gradually, Cornish began to reassert their control on the match, OWs never able to threaten the Cornish line again in the match from this point. Holding out until restored to 15, Pollard began using the wind and the poor positioning of the home full back to drive his side deeper and deeper into Wimbledonians territory. Ben Wheeler began nailing his man at the lineouts and the visitors started utilising energy sapping driving mauls to gain territory. Upping their game now and rucking with greater efficiency, a 7 phase move involving great driving runs from Turnbull, Renner and the two wings Harvey and Jim Strover, eventually ended with centre Henry Mitchell capping another fine display by switching with Pollard and crashing over despite plenty of attention from the OW defence half way in from the right flank. Cornish made a change bringing on Jonty Saunders at 7 in place of Rod Petre. Pollard slotted a difficult conversion and the lead was now 21-13 with 11 minutes left. Within 3 minutes Cornish had scored again, Pollard again finding the home full back hopelessly out of position as he overran a kick. Mike Dardis reacted more quickly than the covering wingers, scooping the ball up to Milne supporting at pace who shipped the ball right to Pollard who showed the home defence a clean pair of heels to score under the posts. Converting his own score for the second time in the match, Pollard now gave his side an unassailable 28-13 lead. Cornish made their final change bringing on Matt Strover for Harvey, who had taken a slight knock to the knee when chasing the previous kick. With lock Pete Calvert now nicking home lineout ball and full back George Bramble steadying his early nerves, there was no way back for Wimbledonians. With the final act of the game, a lineout on halfway saw the home side driven back in midfield and when they flung a pass from right to left on halfway, Dardis read it perfectly to intercept and have enough gas to score, again halfway in from the right flank, Pollard unable to convert into the strong wind. Cornish had scored an unanswered 19 points in the last 11 minutes to clear away from their struggling hosts by 33-13.

Both of these sides have had to contend with horrific injury lists thus far in the season, but while Cornish can rely on a steady stream of replacements coming through their effervescent 2nd XV, Old Wimbledonians are repeatedly unable to field a 2s. They have an immense task on their hands if they are to avoid demotion to London 4 for the first time in their history. Cornish will be delighted to have won by such a margin in a game in which they coasted for long periods. They know that they have to continue to improve if they are to keep on progressing up the table, but they have the ammo to do it and have again demonstrated that they are enjoying the challenge!

LCRFC – George Bramble, Jim Strover, Graham Dodge, Henry Mitchell, Mike Harvey (Matt Strover), Dan Pollard, Mike Dardis, Chris Milne, Rod Petre (Jonty Saunders), Mike Allewell (Capt.)(Will Ho), James Turnbull, Pete Calvert, Ben Wheeler, Will Carew-Gibbs, Andy Renner.

Well done DICKON on another fine win, a detailed and excellent report also

Winning can become a habit, good on you and all at Cornish.

Thanks chaps - Cup for both of us this weekend. Keeping fingers crossed!

Do you know much about the opposition Dickon for Saturday

Not much Merlin, but I will be scouring the net for info in the next few days!

This is the only one i could find Dickon

http://www.oarfc.co.uk/

Well done today Dickon,great to keep the winning habit going.

Great result Dickon, good luck in the next round.

Dickon, definitely a good result for you there. Congratulations to all your team.

EDF SENIOR VASE 3rd ROUND
17/11/07
OLD ASHMOLEAN v LONDON CORNISH

Old Ashmoleans 10 - London Cornish 47

London Cornish summarily dismissed the challenge of London 4 North-West promotion contenders Old Ashmoleans in Southgate on Saturday, recording an emphatic 7 try to 1 victory as the exiles again demonstrated their growing confidence. The few hardy souls watching the game were witness to some scintillating rugby from the visitors as they dominated all aspects of the game.

In 1996/7, this match was a Herts/Middx 4 league game, and it is a measure of just how progressive these two clubs are that the two clubs now ply their trade in the Senior Vase. Ashmoleans came into the game in good form, sitting in 3rd place in their league with just one defeat all season. They had already accounted for London 3 opposition in a previous round, dumping St Albans out of the competition, and doubtless saw Cornish as another potential giant-killing target. They have an unusual set up in that their clubhouse is not situated anywhere near their pitches, so both teams change and then drive down to the ground. While this may faze some clubs, the exiles are used to such an inconvenience since they too drive to their clubhouse (The Telegraph Inn) following matches, albeit the changing rooms are on the same ground as the pitches and only the post match meal is served in the pub. A seamless drive round the north circular saw Cornish arrive in excellent time much to the astonishment of the few bewildered Ashmoleans assembling at their HQ. The exiles had rested a couple of players for this match, Adam McVicar getting a start at 9 in place of Mike Dardis, and Matt Strover being recalled on the wing in place of Mike Harvey. There was also a recall at long last for Rob Aird at lock, he being given the Skippers mantle in the absence of Mike Allewell.

The municipal pitch was in fine condition and the game began in overcast conditions with a strong, swirling breeze favouring nobody. With their first attack on 4 minutes Cornish exposed flaws in the home defence as wing Matt Strover juggled through on the angle from just inside the 22 to plunge over under the sticks, Dan Pollard adding the extras. It quickly became apparent that there was a huge disparity in the ability of the two packs as the exiles tore into their hosts in the tight, winning each of the first 9 scrums against the head. With their lineout also being picked apart by the Cornish jumpers Pete Calvert and Chris Milne, the only ball Ashmoleans could win was on the floor. On 9 minutes hands in the ruck gave Pollard the chance to extend the exiles lead, the kick made comfortably from way out on the right hand side. Ashmoleans won a kickable penalty on 26 minutes but the kick was pulled wide, and each successive time the home side reached the Cornish 22 they were turned over as flankers Rod Petre and Will Ho were at their snaffling best. Playing a tight, well structured game the difference in levels between the two sides was increasingly visible as the game progressed, for though Ashmoleans have powerful runners at 12 and 15, they simply could not utilise them in dangerous areas of the pitch as they were under constant pressure up front. On 32 minutes Cornish broke blind for prop Ben Wheeler to pass the ball out to wing Jim Strover who matched his brothers earlier score by scoring out wide, the conversion missed on this occasion. No matter - within minutes of the halftime whistle Cornish launched a catch and drive that saw Skipper Aird gain the plaudits as the home pack were driven over their line, again the conversion sliding wide. The half time whistle went on a 20-0 lead for the visitors and little way back for the home side.

An early score in the second period was always likely to settle the match as a contest, and the exiles got in on 44 minutes when quick hands saw Jim Strover break away down the left flank to cross the whitewash out wide and scoot in by the posts, Pollard increasing his teams lead to 27-0. Finally, after winning a series of penalties awarded by an eccentric performance from the exchange referee from East Midlands, Ashmoleans managed to free up a back inside the visiting 22 to score under the posts. Though the conversion was added, there was only muted cheering from the small group of home supporters as they knew their side was on the rack. Back came the exiles, winning a scrum inside the home 22 after a good break by centre Graham Dodge. The front row of Wheeler, Will Carew-Gibbs and Andy Renner set to work on their opposite numbers and Cornish won a penalty. Aird opted for another scrum and as no 8 Milne was in the act of picking up the ball to score an errant boot came through to kick it away, the referee having little option but to award a penalty try. Pollard again added the extras and Cornish rang some changes, Frenchman Nicolas Patte making his first team debut in place of Ho, and Tom Rooke returning to first team action after a long injury lay off in place of Dodge. Ashmoleans began trying to spread the ball as they chased the game but passes went astray and plenty were fired straight into touch. With the Cornish lineout showing real timing for the first time this season, every time this happened the ball was returned with interest. On 68 minutes a fine run by centre Henry Mitchell saw a good link between forwards and backs before the ball fell to Renner. The powerful prop has taken a liking to try scoring in recent games and here he poached another as he powered over despite the attention of a couple of would-be tacklers. The kick was missed but this was the signal for Cornish to make their final two changes, James Turnbull coming on to replace Renner and club stalwart Jim Chilcott coming on in place of Milne. The home side did manage to piece together a few phases of play at this stage, and when they worked the ball from left to right just on the Cornish 22, their 12 signalled his thoughts on the game by dropping a goal! The Cornish response was immediate, Pollard striking a fine penalty from just inside the home half on 74 minutes to make the score 42-7. Finally, McVicar sent full back George Bramble down the blind side on 78 minutes and his pass gave Matt Strover the chance to level his personal scoring duel with his brother as he rounded the first defender and handed off the second to score way out on the right flank. When the final whistle went on the 47-10 victory, Cornish could be well satisfied with a job well done.

Cornish have taken a couple of spankings in League and Cup as they have progressed in recent seasons (including this one!), and these have helped highlight where the club need to focus to progress further. Hopefully, Old Ashmoleans can do the same from this game as they have plenty of the component parts to be an awkward opponent for sides at their level and the level above. We wish them well and will keep an eye out for their results as these two clubs are the fastest rising clubs in amateur London league rugby in the past 6 seasons. The early season travails have fallen away from the shoulders of London Cornish RFC, and the club is praying that they may get a home draw for only the second time in the last ten national cup draws when the 4th Round fixtures are released on Tuesday. The carefully managed injury list is now filtering players back into selection every week and there is plenty more to come from this group of players, clearly enjoying their rugby at LCRFC!

LCRFC – George Bramble, Jim Strover, Graham Dodge (Tom Rooke), Henry Mitchell, Matt Strover, Dan Pollard, Adam McVicar, Chris Milne (Jim Chilcott), Rod Petre, Will Ho (Nicolas Patte), Rob Aird (Capt.), Pete Calvert, Ben Wheeler, Will Carew-Gibbs, Andy Renner (James Turnbull).