Rugby

London Cornish: 25

Sevenoaks: 21

SEVENOAKS were knocked out of the Intermediate Cup after a hard-fought game with London South West 2 outfit, London Cornish.

Oaks kicked off and both sides began nervously, Walker, starting at 10 for the first time this season, putting up a clever high ball. Pollock, exerting pressure on the opposing winger, forced him into touch and gave Oaks a territorial start and a chance to see the Oaks line-out. Jumpers and lifters were on song and providing the backs with the perfect platform for attack.

Oaks, camped in the Cornish half for the first 20 minutes, applied pressure and looked comfortable on the front foot, with the forwards providing good ball and Cornish conceding penalties, but mistakes in open play allowed Cornish to clear their lines.

The Cornish game plan soon became apparent as they were happy to keep pinning Oaks in their own 22 with a tidy kicking game. However, the Sevenoaks line-out was working well and the hosts had to try something else. Attacking well, they switched the play to the blindside, stretching Oaks' defence as a neat pass back inside created a hole for their wing to score a well-worked converted try for 7-0.

Sevenoaks restarted and Cornish were happy to revert to their kicking game, but Shenton, making his comeback at 15, was clearing well and Sevenoaks applied pressure in the middle of the park, resulting in a scrum to Oaks.

The scrum again provided a good platform and the mercurial Walker was happily feeding in the centres, Field and Tree, who were doing the hard graft and resetting the play well. Good phase play created opportunity wide, and Walker threw a miss-pass to Field, who did the same to winger Pollock and he did not need a second invitation.

Displaying great pace and evasive running, Pollock left the defenders no chance from 50 metres out to score neatly in the corner, though the try went unconverted: 7-5.

Sloppy play from the restart allowed Cornish into the Oaks' 22, and, after attacking the blindside for the third consecutive time, they found Sevenoaks lacking defenders. Cornish fly-half Dan Pollard went in to score and convert from the touchline.

Oaks remained determined, however, and great running from Coleman, Barnes and Alteirac saw them again on the attack. Dodd and Pollock, running Cornish kicks back well from deep, made sure that Oaks stayed in control of the ball, with number nine Roffey dominating the game well and the forwards working the phases. Josh Baldock impressed on his debut at flanker by throwing himself at every ruck and maul to clear the way for Oaks.

As the second half started, Barnes was having a superb game on the flank, making good tackles and a lot of ground in the loose.

A good box-kick from Roffey was collected by the Cornish wing, but a thumping tackle after a good chase by Tree dislodged the ball, and Pollock was again on hand to set off from 40 metres out. Handing off the full-back, he went in for his second unconverted try of the day to keep up his prolific start.

Cornish tried to get back at Oaks straight away, but good defence from Stewart and another strong run from Coleman awarded the visitors, and Field, an opportunity to kick at goal from 40 metres out.

The 18-year-old coolly slotted the ball between the posts to make the score 14-13 with 25 minutes left to play.

Oaks, however, fell asleep from the restart and a couple of soft tackles put Cornish on the front foot. They made Oaks pay as they went in for an unconverted try in the corner.

Alteirac led the way in putting good pressure on from the restart, but indiscipline had started to creep into the Oaks game, which gave the Cornish 10 another chance to punish Oaks.

Oaks were still in with a chance and more good work gave Field another opportunity from 40 metres out to get Oaks back into the game with time running out, and he again slotted the three points.

Oaks now had their tails up, and more great running saw Oaks camped again in the Cornish 22. Aspinall was working well at the breakdown and strong in the tackle. Sevenoaks, pushing the Cornish forwards tirelessly, and good work involving Roffey and Watmough resulted in an off-load to Alteirac, who powered over the last-ditch Cornish defence.

The try was converted, leaving the score 25-21 with three minutes to play.

In a fast and furious last few minutes, Oaks tried everything left in their arsenal.

Great running from Boatwright-Smith, man of the match Barnes and good jinking runs from Field, outstanding all afternoon, allowed Oaks to work their way up the pitch.

A penalty was given to Oaks, who thumped the ball into the 22.

This was the chance Sevenoaks had been waiting for, and another solid line-out saw Oaks marching the maul close to the try-line.

Cornish, recognising the danger, deliberately pulled down the maul, resulting in another penalty and a yellow card, but crucially stopping what had seemed a likely try.

With huge pressure again on the line-out, Oaks took the ball cleanly again, maintaining their 100-per-cent record for the game, but Cornish, wise to the maul, halted the drive and Oaks fed the backs, who pushed forwards again. However, despite more pressure, the clock was against Oaks and a knock-on finished the game

Sevenoaks' performance was markedly improved from the previous week, with solid performances from some of the younger squad members, including Thierry Walker, Simon Tree, Adam Field, Charlie Watmough, Josh Baldouck.

On Saturday, they have a big home game against Lewes, and confidence will be high, despite two disappointing results.