Nice win today Dickon well done,look forward to your report.

 

Thx chaps - was a good way to start the New Year against a revitalised Andover. Full report to follow.

LONDON 3 SOUTH-WEST
05/01/08
ANDOVER v LONDON CORNISH

Andover 14 - London Cornish 23

London Cornish produced their 6th win in their last 7 league games to overcome a revitalised and reinforced Andover at the Goodship Ground on Saturday. The win was achieved by a goal, two tries and two penalties to two goals. It is in an interesting fact that if the league had been played over these last 7 games, Cornish would actually be top on points difference, an indication of just how fast the team is adapting to playing at this level for the first time ever.

Cornish were able to field an unchanged pack from the one that played in the last game of 2007, the only changes in the backs being Henry Mitchell returning at inside centre and George Bramble coming back in on the wing. The game began in watery sunlight on a decent surface, the exiles electing to play up the slope in the opening period. In spite of a shorter warm up than normal, the visitors were by far the sharper out of the traps, dominating the opening period. With their opening attack on 3 minutes Cornish drove at the heart of the Andover defence into their 22, the ball quickly being recycled left for Mike Harvey to race over to open the scoring. Though fly half Dan Pollard missed the conversion attempt from the left flank, he was heavily involved in a superb move on 9 minutes that doubled the exiles advantage. Following fine linking play between no 8 Chris Milne, open side Rod Petre and right wing George Bramble, centre Keith Thompson was sent clear to dive over on the right flank, the conversion pulled wide. Andover, clearly having a number of players back from injury and with a few new faces in their team, looked stunned and those supporters arriving late from the bar had missed a crucial period in the match. The home side now used a series of box kicks from their scrum half to try and gain field position, but both full back Tim Mucken and Harvey are adept at fielding these and Mucken in particular returned these with interest, often linking with Milne who enjoyed a fine game throughout. Conceding penalties to Cornish right from the off, the Hampshire side did not help their cause with a constant dialogue both with the referee and each other, a couple of times being marched back 10 yards for backchat. When they did get within striking distance of the Cornish line, they were turned over, profligacy punished by Pollard on 23 minutes when he slotted a penalty from some way out on the left to stretch the lead to 13-0. A period when the lineout malfuntioned allowed Andover some dominance, and on 31 minutes they gained due reward without ever having looked as though they might score, a huge overlap giving one of their backs room to evade a tackle and cross by the posts. The conversion reduced the arrears to 6 and the game was on! Though rusty at the set pieces, the exiles held their own up the slope, the front row of Ben Wheeler, Mike Allewell and Ben Shribman preventing the home side from gaining any easy ball at scrummage time. With time running out on the half, Cornish again won a penalty in a similar spot to the previous one as the referee spotted an offside. Pollard once again struck the ball firmly between the uprights to give his side a 16-7 half time lead.

There is a tendancy to believe the job is done when leading a match at half time where you have played up a slope. It certainly appeared that way in the opening 10 minutes of the second period as Andover came back strongly at Cornish. Now moving the ball wide to their lumpy left wing at every opportunity, the Hants side tested their visitors, but the tactic was repeated too often so though ground was made, the cover snuffed out any lasting damage. Where the home side had used kicks down the pitch to gain field position, Cornish tried to play too much rugby in their own half in this section of the game, a couple of times being caught trying to run out of defence rather than put boot to the ball. Skipper Rob Aird steadied his side, Milne and lock Pete Calvert now being nailed at lineout time by Allewell. On 49 minutes Thompson struck a superb line off Pollard to burst through the Andover defence but as he tried to slip an inside pass to his support the ball was lost and the opportunity with it. Within minutes the home scrum half spotted a gap on halfway and was through it like a whippet. As he arrowed away from the cover he was brought down in the shadow of the posts by a fantastic tackle by Mucken. The ball was quickly recycled and after three phases the Andover left wing was brought in on a slice to crash across the line near the posts, the conversion reducing the deficit to 16-14. Cornish now made a couple of important changes, Portuguese International Manuel De Mello coming on at lock with Aird moving to blindside in place of Nicolas Patte, and prop James Turnbull coming on in place of Shribman. Still directing a stream of vitriol at the referee at every breakdown, the home side were never again able to threaten the Cornish line. On 64 minutes as Cornish drove a maul forward, a couple of haymaking punches made contact with De Mello's face right in front of the referee. Applying the letter of the law, the Andover forward was given a straight red card, his actions totally at odds with the spirit in which the game had been played. Cornish kicked the ball to the corner, and De Mello exacted the perfect revenge as it was he who plunged the ball across the whitewash to score down the left flank from the driving maul. Pollard stepped up to strike an excellent and vital conversion to take his side out to a 23-14 lead. A further change saw Adam McVicar come on in place of scrum half Mike Dardis, the latter having enjoyed a fine game mixing sniping, pacy runs with good service to his half back partner. Reduced a man and already struggling in the tight, the home side now found scrums on their ball a huge hindrance as they were driven downhill at a rate of knots. Forcing the game and now requiring two scores, Andover did have one last chance to reduce the arrears when they won a penalty from a similar position to that from which Pollard had nailed two penalties in the first half. This kick was pulled just wide however, and with it went the Hampshire side's chances of taking anything from the game. Cornish went close to adding to their tally with another drive from a lineout in the dying minutes, but they lost control of the ball as they neared the home line and the danger was cleared. The final whistle went with Cornish 9 points to the good, a fair reflection on the game.

Andover have ambitous plans to develop their ground and have the space in which to achieve them. They have key matches coming up against the sides around them in the league, the relegation battle seeming to have crystallized down to any 2 from 4 at the bottom of London 3 South-West. On this evidence, the Hampshire side will be a far tougher nut to crack than they were in the first half of the season and it will be a battle that may well go down to the wire. Cornish move into the highest league position the club has ever attained in its history with power to add before the season is over. With no additional injuries to add to a list that is clearing fast, the club are determined to continue their drive up the division.

LCRFC – Tim Mucken, George Bramble, Keith Thompson, Henry Mitchell, Mike Harvey, Dan Pollard, Mike Dardis (Adam McVicar), Chris Milne, Rod Petre, Nicolas Patte (Manuel De Mello), Rob Aird (Capt.), Pete Calvert, Ben Shribman (James Turnbull), Mike Allewell, Ben Wheeler.

How did the friendly go yesterday Dickon?.

Decent workout for London Cornish on Saturday, a friendly at Weybridge Vandals being won by 26-10. Able to use 21 players so was a good chance to look at a few faces who have impressed in the 2s.

Is your game on tomorrow Dickon?.

In an attempt to beat the weather and with our pitches unplayable, we have switched the game to the LSE Sports Ground in New Malden. If they are rained off, we may play the game away at Old Reigatians as our 'home' game. Whatever, we are keen to play as we have 84 players available across our 4 sides on Saturday!!!

We just ordered waterwings.  

--Last edited by DaveH on 2008-01-19 22:32:12 --

LONDON 3 SOUTH-WEST
19/01/08
LONDON CORNISH v OLD REIGATIANS

London Cornish 18 - Old Reigatians 15

London Cornish rose to the highest league position in the clubs history as they completed the double over Old Reigatians with their 7th win in the last 8 league games in London 3 South-West. The win was not without alarms however, as the side seemingly coasted through the match, too many players having an eye on next weeks tour to Guernsey. The stats show that Cornish won by a try, a goal and two penalties to a try, a goal and one penalty.

The recent persistent and torrential rain rendered the pitches at the Richardson Evans Memorial Ground unplayable, so the match was switched to the nearby LSE Sports Ground at New Malden on a perfect surface and a small pitch. A number of supporters from both sides found their way to the ground and the weather stayed dry for the duration of the afternoon. Cornish had made a number of changes from the side successful at Andover a couple of weeks back, James Turnbull given a start at prop with Ben Shribman switching to the bench, Mike Allewell switching to blind side in place of the injured Nicolas Patte allowing Will Carew-Gibbs to return at hooker after an 8 week injury absence, and former Skipper Tom Thirlwall given a first start of the season at no 8 in place of the rested Chris Milne. Cornish elected to play into a very strong wind in the opening period and were quickly on the defensive as clearing kicks made very little distance. Reigatians play a tight rucking game but have recruited a few South African flyers to light up their backline and it quickly became apparent that they were very up for the game. However, the powerful Cornish front 5 caused havoc in the tight as Turnbull, Carew-Gibbs and Ben Wheeler got the squeeze on up front and this was to play a key element in the match. Though penned in their own territory in the opening 10 minutes, granite Cornish defending prevented OR's from getting within striking range of their line, and on 12 minutes the visitors paid the price when they were cut apart by the best moment of the match. Cornish won a scrum deep in their own half and ran the ball from left to right, fly half Dan Pollard switching an inside pass to blind side wing George Bramble hitting the line at pace. He burst through the gap before passing to outside centre Keith Thompson who crossed into the OR half, committed the inside shoulder of the OR left wing and slipped the ball to Mike Harvey. Harvey flew down the right flank and his in/out move committed the full back as he tore into the 22, the ball passed in the tackle to the exiles full back Tim Mucken also arriving at speed to gather the ball, dash the final 5 metres and slide in at the corner, the speed and accuracy of the counter attack drawing gasps and extended applause from an appreciative Cornish support. The impossible conversion attempt into the wind actually went close but at 5-0 Cornish had demonstrated just why they have scored so many points this season. OR's regathered and drove Cornish back into their own half for long periods of the opening half, but were hampered by the pressure on their scrums and the inability of the backline to make clean line breaks despite plenty of ball. On a number of occasions they attempted to roll mauls to the Cornish line but the home side is so adept at countering these and the tactic did not work. The visitors did win a couple of penalties in this period but both kicks from some distance out missed despite the prevailing wind. On 25 minutes Cornish broke out again, good work on the floor by Allewell supported by a snipe from scrum half Mike Dardis and another run from Harvey. Cornish won a penalty, kicked to the corner and began to roll the maul, but as they popped a pass around the fringe it was intercepted by a suspiciously positioned OR forward who sprinted clear, the supporting backs only being hauled down by the home cover as they entered Cornish territory. With Pete Calvert ruling supreme at lineout time and causing problems for the OR thrower on their ball, it was in the loose that OR's gained an ascendancy, the home side simply unwilling to commit bodies to the rucks. Gradually the pressure increased and after an age spent defending the left hand corner of their 22, Cornish finally conceded a try on the stroke of half time when an OR forward managed to twist his way out of a tackle and plunge the ball over the line, the kick once again missing. WIht no addition to the score in the remaining minutes, the whistle went on a half-time score of 5-5.

Now with the wind in their favour, it was Cornish who could turn the screw in the second period. Skipper Rob Aird exhorted his troops to extra effort and within five minutes of the restart his side regained the lead. Now driving the OR pack backward at an alarming rate at scrum time, Cornish turned over an OR scrum inside the visiting 22. They drove the set piece back toward the line and as the referee indicated an advantage to Cornish, the ball squirted out for Dardis to scoop up and power across the whitewash for a score half way in to the posts. From where the OR kicker missed his conversion in the first half, Pollard did not, driving his kick between the uprights to give his side a 12-5 lead. OR's responded again, the side desperate to break a run of 7 narrow defeats since their last league win back in October. Sensibly utilising their pick and drive tactics to negate the effect of the wind, they drove up into the exiles half and won a penalty. This was kicked into the Cornish 22 and though the initial maul was repelled, the ball found its' way out of a ruck for one of their forwards to again twist through a tackle and plant the ball down. This time their kicker made no mistake and the game was all square at 12-12. Both sides had become increasingly frustrated with the interpretation of the rules at the breakdown by the referee, who may consider that this was not his best day. On 56 minutes Cornish had reason to feel hard done by when they worked a fine blind side move to put Harvey on a clear run to the line down the right flank only for the play to be harshly called back for a forward pass. Driven deep into their own 22 by a huge, raking kick by Pollard, OR's transgressed once too often when they were caught offside in midfield. Up stepped Pollard to drive his side back into the lead with the penalty. Cornish now made a change, Shribman coming on at prop in place of Turnbull who had given his opposite number a torrid time all afternoon. This period of the game saw Cornish dominant again, and with the referee again indicating an advantage for a transgression at a ruck, Pollard took a pot at a drop goal which sailed over the near post, the kick not awarded by the referee but not without dispute from those supporters behind the posts. The retaken penalty from way out on the left flank was pulled narrowly wide. On 68 minutes Cornish won another penalty following a driving run by open side Rod Petre supported by the powerful Thirlwall on the visiting 22. Pollard again stepped up to ease his side out to an 18-12 lead and Cornish made a couple more changes, Pete Drewett replacing Allewell at 6 and Matt Godsall giving Mucken a rest at full back. OR's were still in the game and continued to try and run the ball, their elusive full back and well balanced outside centre constantly probing for openings. They found the Cornish midfield defence in uncompromising form however, Henry Mitchell a rock at 12. However, they did win a penalty on 73 minutes and their kicker struck it well to drive it into the wind and between the uprights to reduce the arrears to 3. Godsall's first piece of action was to field a kick on half way, beat a defender and drive a superb grubber kick deep into the OR 22. There they should have stayed for the remaining few minutes but Cornish again lacked concentration at key moments, two lineouts being lost and play finding its way deep into the Cornish 22. This time the home side lost the scrum and after a frantic series of phases, it was OR's who lost the plot with the referee after he called them back for a forward pass as their runner broke clear down the blind side. Cornish were able to clear their lines and with no further addition to the score, the home side had won by 18-15.

It is clear that a number of the sides at the bottom have recruited in the holiday period in an effort to avoid the drop. The games between these sides in the coming weeks will be crucial and Old Reigatians are amongst them. They have a far better points difference than those around them but do need to win games, not impossible for a team who were capable of dumping league leaders Cobham out of the Cup before Christmas. It is a healthy sign that Cornish won this game without playing well, and it may well be that the impending trip to Guernsey had something to do with that. A few bumps and bruises will have to be analysed before the final selection for that trip but Cornish will make it as the 5th placed side in London 3 South-West, the highest position the side has ever attained in this, its inaugral season at this level. With 30 Vets making the trip and a host of supporters it promises to be a fantastic occasion! With the 2s now top of their division, the 3s riding high in theirs and the Dukes maintaining a 100% record on Saturday, it will take more than a few bumps and bruises to stop Cornish from continuing its march!

LCRFC – Tim Mucken (Matt Godsall), George Bramble, Keith Thompson, Henry Mitchell, Mike Harvey, Dan Pollard, Mike Dardis, Tom Thirlwall, Rod Petre, Mike Allewell (Pete Drewett), Rob Aird (Capt.), Pete Calvert, James Turnbull (Ben Shribman), Will Carew-Gibbs, Ben Wheeler.  

--Last edited by DICKON on 2008-01-20 11:05:14 --

Well done Dickon,have a great w/e in Guernsey, not too many beers till after the game.

Dickon, don't you ever lose these days?

Another good result and all the teams going well. Have a good trip, Stay sober.

DaveH-little chance of your last  comment being fulfilled, I suspect. As a one-time Guernsey resident I can assure you that sobriety will be conspicuous by its absence[provided the weather allows the boys to get there in the first place].

How far you got up the league now? Any chance of promotion?

its our first season at level 7. With no money we are strictly amateur so anything other than relagation was the plan. After a slow start I think we could end up 3rd or 4th which aint bad. Next year we'll push for level 6 - fingers crossed.....

I reckon Benji will be coming up to see you boys for places in the Cornwall team at this rate of progress!!

well maybe he should! we are an affiliated club to the CRFU & a top 10 one (based on league structure) at that...

Dorking have had a number of players represent Surrey in recent seasons.

London Cornish set off for Guernsey tonight with a 50+ raiding party flying from Gatwick. A measure of the task ahead is that Guernsey have won all 6 of their home matches to date and they lie 3rd in the table to Cornish's 5th. However, Cornish have won 7 of their last 8 in the league so travel in good form. The exiles are also taking a Vets side of c25 players awash with talent of yesteryear. Trelawny will bounce from the walls of the Guernsey clubhouse come 1800 tomorrow night. The club return on Sunday so will report back then!

Sounds like the place to be , Dickon. I hope it goes well. Have a good weekend. Stay sober.

Have a good w/e Dickon,apart from the result.