1st XV - Match centre

Horsham
London Cornish
Tries
A Munro-Lott
Conversions
M Lloyd
la 14 joulu 14:15 - London & SE Division - London 1 South Full time

No Concessions as Cornish Take it to the Wire!

By

Decimated exiles take match to final play.

London Cornish overcame a series of obstacles to secure a vital point at Horsham in London 1 South on Saturday, moving up a place in the table as a result. In freakish and unusual circumstances, the exiles very nearly had to concede the match prior to a ball being kicked in anger, and then overcame the loss of 3 players during the match, (2 with concussion and one with what looked like a very serious neck injury at the time (thankfully, not as serious as first feared)) to remain competitive right up to the final whistle.
When hooker Jake Slade was concussed in last weeks match, he become the 6th front row unavailable to Cornish for this weeks match. The upshot was that Oli Low was recalled from paternity to start the match, him having not played or trained in recent months. No panic, as the exiles still had 3 other options for the bench. Earlier in the week, Cornish had allowed the transfer of Tom Lloyd to Esher RFC for the remainder of the season as front row is normally an area of strength and depth for the club. However, on the eve of the match, all 3 of the remaining options (Niko Mirosevic-Sorgo, Nick Goss and Jasper Mowatt, who can all hook) were made unavailable due to various work commitments. With time running out, Cornish sought to register club stalwart Pete Boele, and though this was completed in time late on Friday, it transpired that Boele was born in Australia and his clearance would not come through until the Monday. Frantic late night calls eventually managed to reverse the decision for Mowatt to have to work, but it really was nearly Saturday morning before this was achieved! In the event, it was in the tight that Cornish ultimately lost the match, but not before all those standing in had performed miracles to keep them in the game.
On a cold, breezy day in bright, low sunshine, Cornish began playing towards the Horsham grass pitches on the synthetic surface. From the get-go, 2 things were very clear in this match; 1. The home side had complete domination in the tight, and 2. They would work the ball to their left wing at every opportunity. However, Cornish used every trick in the book to nullify the effect of 1, and a combination of butterfingers and a great performance by exiles wing Chris Wright blunted the effect of 2, the lad only able to make one telling break in the match. Horsham had plenty of early territory, and it took 5 minutes for Cornish to threaten, Matt Hakes linking with Miles Lloyd on a counter, but the visitors lost the ball against the head when in a decent position. On a couple of occasions in the opening 10, the home side were turned over on the floor by Adam Wheeler and Sam Matanle, the pair manning the barricades to great effect. However, on 11 minutes, the Sussex side found their wing in space, and he burst a tackle, evaded another and scooted clear for a converted try. 7 minutes later, and with Cornish having been on the back foot but avoided further conceding, scrum half Freddie Cruz was injured in a incident deemed worthy of a penalty by the referee. It was quickly apparent that this was no ordinary injury, and with great work by both teams physios, the player was supported whilst an ambulance was called. There was now a delay as the game would need to be moved to the adjacent grass pitch, which also meant players returning to the changing rooms to change boots. Cornish replaced Cruz with fellow 9 Andy Munro-Lott, and the game recommenced on the heavy grass pitch. Wheeler, who is in great form, burst through a gap on 21 minutes into the home 22, but his offload went forward and the chance went begging. An understandably scrappy period followed, and Cornish withdrew Low on the half-hour mark, Mowatt on at hooker and Tony Pellow moving to prop, this steadying things in the tight for a period. On 2 occasions in the remaining minutes of the half, Horsham knocked on when well placed, their frustration beginning to show in their interactions with the referee. On 37 minutes, Horsham missed a kickable penalty following a high tackle, and when they knocked on the 22 drop out, Lloyd produced a fine chip in behind that sent Horsham back to within touching distance of their line. The home lineout held firm, and the ball was cleared for the half-time whistle to sound with the Sussex side 7-0 up.
With the ambulance now in attendance, the decision had to be taken to move the match back to the AGP as it has floodlights and the grass pitch does not. A further delay, with players dashing back to the changing rooms to change footwear again, and the well humoured crowd traipsing from one pitch to the next. Cornish made a further change now, Cam Crozier on at 8 in place of Mark Osei-Tutu. Despite dominating much of the first half in terms of territory and possession, Horsham only had a 7 point lead to show for it, and would not have expected the 2nd period to be quite the struggle it was. Whatever the reason, the game suddenly opened up, and became much more even as a result. On 44 minutes, Lloyd chipped the ball in behind, and Wright was quickest to respond, fly hacking the ball to the shadow of the posts only to knock on in the act of regathering with the line at his mercy. Lead by increasingly line breaking carries from Skip Ed Carne and lock James La Broy, and with Dave Chalkley an increasing nuisance for the home lineout, Cornish began to gain territory. A sporadic counter lead by the home 9 was snuffed out when his offload went forwards on 48 minutes, exiles fly half Keegan Neal producing a massive clearance from deep in his own 22 for a lineout in the Horsham half. La Broy and Carne connected again on 55 minutes, carrying into the Horsham 22, but an offload was knocked on, the force increasingly with the exiles now. On 58 minutes, Chalkley pinched a home lineout, and this precipitated a withering assault on the Horsham defence. Winning a couple of penalties during this period, Cornish kept up the tempo with quick taps, Wright producing a storming run to take play to the foot of the posts. With an advantage again and the home d retreating, Munro-Lott sensed his moment, the former Falmouth scrum-half dummying his way over for the try (pictured), Lloyd adding a fine conversion to level things up. It was all Cornish for a period now, Joe Lynch making the next incision on 63 minutes, and Horsham pinged for hands in the till, only for the penalty attempt to be pulled wide of the left hand upright. Further penalties went against the home side, the anxiety of the home support communicated in their displeasure with the referee. A twisting, bullocking Crozier run gave the exiles great field position again on 69 minutes, and when play was reversed, Horsham were penalised for a high tackle, the miscreant binned, but this penalty attempt was also pulled wide. When the Sussex side were again pinged at the restart and then marched back 10 for chat, Cornish kicked to 10 out down the left flank. Chalkey claimed and La Broy broke from the back of the maul to plunge over the line, though he was deemed held up, much to his annoyance as he claimed he grounded the ball. At the scrum, Cornish worked the ball into midfield but crucially lost the ball forward in the tackle for Horsham to clear their lines. Having survived the onslaught, the home side countered and cleared long, the exiles knocking on inside their own 22. Pinged twice at a retreating scrum and with the referee indicating last play, the exiles were in danger of conceding a penalty try, but at the third attempt, the home 8 was able to pick up and dive over for a try in the corner for the winning score, greeted with glee by the home support, the conversion missed but Horsham victors by 12-7.
Horsham stopped the rot with this win, and thanks must be given both for their hospitality and for their help and concern for the stricken exile, him thankfully returned home but clearly ‘off games’ for a while. They will agree that this wasn’t a great game of rugby, but compelling for all that, and a win is a win.
Cornish went through the full gamut of emotions with this one, from thinking the game would have to be conceded, to fielding a full squad, to losing a player with what looked initially a very serious injury, then turning the game around, and finally losing it on the last play. Given all those circumstances, this point may yet prove vital, and the 2nd half performance certainly gives cause for encouragement.

Key moments

61:00
Try Andrew Munro-Lott scores for London Cornish
62:00
Conversion Miles Lloyd kicks a conversion for London Cornish

Highlights

View 0 new events
62:00 Conversion 0 - 7
Miles Lloyd kicks a conversion for London Cornish
61:00 Try 0 - 5
Andrew Munro-Lott scores for London Cornish
End of period 1
30:00 Sub Off
Oliver Low is substituted off for London Cornish
30:00 Sub On
Jasper Mowatt is substituted on for London Cornish
18:00 Sub Off
Freddie Cruz is substituted off for London Cornish
18:00 Sub On
Andrew Munro-Lott is substituted on for London Cornish
Start of the game
Replay game

As it happened

  • Horsham
  • London Cornish
  • 0
  • Freddie Cruz Sub Off 18:00'
  • Andrew Munro-Lott Sub On 18:00'
  • Oliver Low Sub Off 30:00'
  • Jasper Mowatt Sub On 30:00'
  • Andrew Munro-Lott Try 61:00'
  • Miles Lloyd Conversion 62:00'

Team selection

Lloyd, Miles Lloyd, Miles
Wright, Chris Wright, Chris
Skerritt, Jack Skerritt, Jack
Carne, Edward Carne, Edward
Hakes, Matthew Hakes, Matthew
Neal, Keegan Neal, Keegan
Cruz, Freddie Cruz, Freddie
Osei Tutu, Mark Osei Tutu, Mark
Matanle, Sam Matanle, Sam
Wheeler, Adam Wheeler, Adam
La Broy, James La Broy, James
Chalkley, David Chalkley, David
Lynch, Joe Lynch, Joe
Pellow, Tony Pellow, Tony
Low, Oliver Low, Oliver
London Cornish

League round up

Other London 1 South results

Medway
30
31
17
22
Cobham
57
15
HAC
Belsize Park
36
12

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League table

# Team Pl Pts
8. Chichester 22 64
9. KCS Old Boys 22 61
10. Thurrock 22 58
11. London Cornish 22 52
12. HAC 22 48
13. Dartfordians 22 28
14. Beckenham 22 27

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