Cobham director of rugby Steve Pope cannot wait to get stuck into London Division Two South West promotion rivals London Cornish for a second and third time this season.

League leaders Cobham return to action with the visit of London Exiles tomorrow and are four points clear of second placed Cornish – but the gap could have been bigger.

Weybridge Vandals came close to doing their derby rivals a favour prior to Christmas, but let a 20-0 first half lead slip to lose 22-20 to Cobham’s nearest challengers.

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Departed: Theo Buffini faced London Cornish last time the two teams met, but Cobham will be without the young hooker for the rest of the season as he has gone travelling

Pope’s men lost their only game of the campaign 26-9 to London Cornish in October and the Fairmile Lane chief wants revenge when they next cross swords in the league on January 30 and in the London & South East Divisional Cup a week later.

“Nearly is not a favour,” said Pope of Vandals’ pre-Christmas efforts.

“I’m looking forward to the return games on the 30th and the 6th.

“Not that I’m counting the days until we get another opportunity to play them.”