Redruth Rugby launches its Hall of Fame on 25 & 26 March. 30 ‘Hall of Famers’ will be inducted at a ceremony in the Redruth Clubhouse on the evening of 25 March and all living Hall of Famers have been invited to a formal luncheon in the Club’s Hospitality Suite prior to the Redruth v Cinderford match on 26 March. Redruth’s Hall of Fame reads like a ‘who’s who’ of Cornish Rugby.

Asked what playing for the Reds meant to them, a number of the Redruth Rugby Hall of Famers responded as follows:

“Growing up in Redruth as a boy in the 1940s and early 1950s my great wish was to play for Redruth one day.” Richard Sharp, OBE (British Lions, England, Barbarians, Oxford University, Cornwall).

“Being born 250 yards from Hellfire Corner into a rugby family it was always the ultimate aim to play for the Reds first team. I was a ball boy at 6 and played for the Colts at 11. It was such an honour to make my first team debut. I was 16 and had played for the school in the morning and the Colts at Hayle at lunchtime. The first team were playing Hayle in the afternoon and the No 8 had not turned up. Terry Pryor said, ‘You’re playing’, and that was that!” Graham Still (Barbarians, Combined Services, England Colts, Cornwall).

“I always watched the Reds as a boy but never thought that I would be good enough to play for the team”, Ken Abrahams (England Trialist, Barbarians, Cornwall/Devon, Cornwall).

Paddy McGovan had England Trials and represented Combined Services, RAF, Cornwall/Devon & Cornwall. “It was an honour to have been involved in all the teams mentioned above but the greatest honour of all was to have been a playing member of Redruth RFC.”

“To play for Redruth in front of a large, passionate and very vocal crowd, gave me a huge sense of pride. Playing towards the famous Hellfire Corner, is there any greater feeling in club rugby? The friendships I have made at the club are also very special. As a player sitting down in the No 1 changing room where so many famous players had sat before me, where famous Redruth teams had got ready, putting on the Red shirt, going through the darkness of the tunnel., then running out to bright sunlight and the noise that greets the players was spine tingling. As a Cornishman playing for Redruth meant everything and I’ll cherish that forever.” Andy Hawken (Barbarians, 400 Reds appearances, 15 county caps, 5 as skipper.)

Full list of the Redruth Rugby Hall of Fame: William Grylls, Bert Solomon, Maffer Davey, William Rich, Fred Rule, Roy Jennings, Harry Faviell, Bill Phillips, Les Semmens, Keith Scott, Bill Bishop, Bonzo Johns, Richard Sharp, John Phillips, Derek Collins, Ken Abrahams, Paddy McGovan, Harold Stevens, Derek Prout, Terry Pryor, Graham Still, Tony Cook, Richard Keast, Alan Buzza, Colin Laity, Andy Hawken, Phil Vickery, Alifereti Doviverata, Rob Thirlby, Darren Jacques.

Tickets for the Redruth Rugby Hall of Fame Induction Evening and Buffet Supper on 25 March are available, price £10, from the Club’s General Manager, Gerry Reilly, on 07748 695971 or at geraldreilly31@btinternet.com

This is what we’ve been waiting for, with due respect to the other sides in the Championship, the play-offs for promotion to the Aviva Premiership.

After the thrills of last season and Exeter Chiefs dramatic winning of the Play-offs at the expense of favourites Bristol, many wonder if it could happen again? Well it could, but I suspect that Worcester Warriors have enough fire-power to prevail, but I am sure they will be given a torrid time and that it will not be plain sailing.

The opening round of fixtures sees our Cornish Pirates at home against Doncaster Knights on Sunday with a 3pm kick-off. Real progress for the Pirates will be to top Pool B and meet the runner-up of Pool A in the semi-final, probably London Welsh but who knows if Nottingham or even Bristol can pull out a surprise.

Getting to the final will send out a big statement of intent of the Pirates’ vision to get to the Aviva Premiership and will further boost their plans for the new, much needed, stadium in Cornwall.

With no British & Irish cup to distract, their focus is on the play-offs and they really do mean buisness this time around. It promises to be an enthralling few weeks as the Cornish Pirates’ supporters ride on a wave of optimisim going forward on all fronts.

Pretty much the same can be said for our National League 1 clubs the Cornish All Blacks and Redruth, while the former look already set for relegation, Redruth are still battling away with the next three Saturday’s set to be “season defining” in the words of their Director of Rugby Dave Penberthy. With two away trips to Sedgley Park and Blaydon before receiving Cinderford on March 26th Redruth know that they really need maximum points from all these games, it’s going to be a tall order but not an impossible one.

Further down the league structure Penryn are battling hard to win promotion out of Tribute Western Counties West, whilst St. Austell and Hayle are fighting out the second promotion spot out of Tribute Cornwall & Devon League behind leaders Bideford.

Veor and Pirates Amateurs are disputing the automatic promotion place out of the Tribute Cornwall league with the unlucky team going into the play-off with the runner up from Tribute Devon 1 currently Wessex.

Commiserations to the Cornwall U.20’s squad who lost last Sunday at Ivybridge against a strong Devon side. Cornwall’s final match in their pool will be at Lydney against Gloucestershire who thrashed Somerset 78-7 at Yatton.

Finally lets hope that our own Cornish lad Olly Barkley makes a swift recovery from his broken leg suffered playing for Bath at Gloucester last week end. I am sure all Cornish rugby supporters will wish to send him good luck on his road to recovery and we shall look forward to seeing him back in action next season.

ST PIRAN’S DAY – 05 March

It is many years since we have had a home fixture on St Piran’s Day so, when we welcome our friends from Stourbridge, it will be to a substantial St Piran’s Day celebration. Redruth Rugby have come together with Redruth Town to stage an event to remember. There will be street entertainment and events going on in the town in the morning then, at 11.45, a procession from the town to the Recreation Ground, arriving at 12 noon. The procession will be made up of civic dignitaries, Cornish bards and societies, schools and performers. On arrival at the ground the procession will be met by a funfair, entertainment, stalls, an array of catering outlets – even a firewalk! RAF Culdrose will be conducting a fly past at 2.00 pm. So, it’s all the fun of the fair – with a rugby match thrown in!

HALL OF FAME LAUNCH – 25&26 March

Redruth Rugby is a Club with 135 years of history and tradition. As a means of celebrating that history and tradition, the Club has decided to launch a Hall of Fame to recognise and honour a number of outstanding individuals who, over many years, have added lustre to the name of Redruth Rugby. 29 members will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at a ceremony in the Clubhouse on the evening of Friday 25 March. On the following day, Saturday 26 March, prior to our match with Cinderford, the living Hall of Famers will be honoured at a formal luncheon in the Club’s Hospitality Suite. The Hall of Fame reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of Cornish Rugby and, among others, we hope to have Phil Vickery, Richard Sharp and Bonzo Johns present.

Other Hall of Famers: William Grylls, Bert Solomon, Maffer Davey, Fred Rule, Roy Jennings, Harry Faviel, Bill Phillips, Les Semmens, Keith Scott, Bill Bishop, John Phillips, Derek Collins, Ken Abrahams, Paddy McGovern, Harold Stevens, Derek Prout, Terry Pryor, Graham Still, Tony Cook, Richard Keast, Alan Buzza, Colin Laity, Andy Hawken, Alifereti Doviverata, Rob Thirlby, Darren Jacques.

20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF CORNWALL WINNING THE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1991 – 23 April

20 April 1991 is a date indelibly lodged in the minds of every Cornish rugby supporter – the day 40,000 Cornwall supporters descended on Twickenham to witness their team secure the County Championship for the first time in over 80 years. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of this historic event we are issuing invitations to the living members of that Cornwall squad (sadly Tony Mead is no longer with us) to join us at the home of Cornish rugby. The 1991 squad are being invited to attend a buffet lunch after which they will be introduced to the crowd, prior to our match with Blaydon. Prior to the match a DVD of the historic 1991 match at Twickenham will be shown in the Clubhouse.

For further information please contact Redruth Rugby’s General Manager, Gerry Reilly, at geraldreilly31@btinternet.com or on 07748 695971

Cornwall got their County Championship campaign at under 20 level off to a great start with an impressive 51-16 win over Somerset at Camborne, reports Bill Hooper.

Despite trailing at half-time 15-16 when playing into the wind, Cornwall stepped up a gear during the second half scoring thirty-six unanswered points to the delight of their coaches Tom Rawlings and Ryan Westren.

Cornwall got off to a fine start with Redruth’s Tom Notman scoring the opening try after just 5 minutes with an arching run following a scrum in the Somerset 22. Aaron Penberthy who had travelled back from Redruth’s National League 1 defeat at Tynedale overnight was on cue with the conversion.

Cornwall were then rocked from the restart as Truro lock Ben Kemp was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle. Somerset’s Brad Barns was unable to find the target with his penalty effort , but was on cue moments later as he converted his own try following a lineout near the clubhouse corner, the fly-half saw a gap and dotted down.
Penberthy nudged Cornwall ahead again with a penalty from in front of the posts as Somerset went off side.

Cornwall were taking the game to their opponents especially through the forwards with Kemp now restored to the fray making some telling breaks along with his backrow of skipper Jordan Rose (Penryn), James Goldsworthy (Camborne) and the excellent Adam Lewarne (Redruth). In the front row Matt Williams (Penryn) and the Redruth duo of Ben Gregor and Peter Jenkin were giving their Somerset opponents a torrid time.

Further pressure from Cornwall saw them score a second try down in the Park gate corner with Williams coming up with the ball from a forward drive.

Somerset were reduced to fourteen men as flanker Arthur Taylor was yellow carded as his side continued to infringe at the breakdown. Cornwall – who lost full back Luke Davidson just before half-time to injury – couldn’t capitalise, instead it was the visitors who troubled the scoreboard in the lead up to half-time with two further penalties from Barns to go into their half-time huddle 16-15 up.

Barnes missed with an early penalty attempt at the start of the second half, as Cornwall again found themselves down to fourteen men as hooker Ben Gregor was deemed to have transgressed. Spurred on Cornwall then took the game by the scuff-of-the-neck with an excellent try from No.8 Lewarne cutting back after taking a pass from scrum-half Luke Ashbridge to score near the posts.

A powerful forward drive down towards the scoreboard corner was heading for the line, however referee Chris Newton had no hesitation in awarding a penalty-try as Somerset infringed.

As the rain began to pour, Gregor now back on the field charged over for Cornwall’s fifth try, all three second half scores were converted by Penberthy who also landed a penalty to put Cornwall well in command at 39-16.

Cornwall were then able to put the icing on the cake with two further tries before the end from replacement Gavin Laycock in the clubhouse corner and finally from Notman who claimed his second of the match with Penberthy adding his fifth conversion.

Afterwards joint-coaches Tom Rawlings and Ryan Westren were both full of praise for their players “The boys were superb today, said Rawlings. “They have had only a couple of training sessions and they really put the effort in, we instilled them with a game plan during those sessions and today they have operated the style and structure we wanted to them to play, the result of that hard work was shown in their performance”.

Rawlings also had a special word for lock Ben Kemp “He was immense carrying ball for fun, he was looking for the holes he ran at people, a tremendous performance. The front row were also tremendous, we gave the man-of-the-match award in the post match huddle with the players to prop Matt Williams, we thought he was simply outstanding this afternoon”.

Cornwall’s next match is against Devon at Ivybridge on Sunday 7th March.

Cornwall 51 pts
Tries – Notman (2), Williams, Lewarne, Penalty-try, Gregor, Laycock, Conversions – Penberthy (5), Penalties – Penberthy (2)
Yellow Cards – Kemp (5), Gregor (48)

Somerset 16 pts
Try – Barns, Conversion – Barns, Penalties – Barns (3)
Yellow Card – Taylor (23)

Cornwall: L Davidson (Wadebridge Camels), T Notman (Redruth), L Yeo (Wellington), M Fittock (Penryn), R Vassel (Notts Uni), A Penberthy (Redruth), L Ashbridge (Truro); M Williams (Penryn), B Gregor, P Jenkin (both Redruth), M Grubb (Wadebridge Camels), B Kemp (Truro), J Goldsworthy (Camborne), J Rose (Penryn, captain), A Lewarne (Redruth)

Replacements (all used): R. Brown (St. Austell), H Morcom (St. Austel), J Scott (Wadebridge Camels), J Wilson (Bude) J Taylor (Wadebridge Camels), K Spear (Cornish All Blacks), G Laycock (Penryn)

Somerset: D Wheatley (Wells), R Johnston (Castle Cary), N Bradley (Bridgewater & Albion), M Fairless (Keynsham), M Knight (Avondale), B Barns (Oldfield), M Skinner (N.Petherton); S Hegerty (Hornets), J Pullen (Castle Cary, captain), N Berry (Exeter Coll), O Jones, R Thompson, T Wain (all Clevedon) A Taylor (Frome), S Butler (N Petherton)

Replacements (all used): A Foster (Keynsham & Glamorgan Uni), A Parfitt (Midsummer Norton), S Russell (Bridgewater & Albion), C Wake (Castle Cary), J Nowell (Broad Plain), C Beavis (Keynsham)

Referee: Mr. C Newton (Devon RRS)

Crowd: 200

In the other match in Cornwall’s group Gloucestershire defeated Devon by 29-12

CORNWALL Under 20`s V Somerset Under 20`s.

From the Cornwall RFU

To be played at Camborne RFC on Sunday 20th February 2011 2.30pm kick off.

Joint coaches Ryan Westren and Tom Rawlings have announced the following side to take on Somerset U.20’s in the opening match of this season’s Championship.

15. Luke Davidson Wadebridge Camels.
14. Tom Notman Redruth.
13. Liam Yeo Wellington.
12. Mike Fittock Penryn.
11. Romey Vassel Nottingham Uni.
10. Aaron Penberthy Redruth.
9. Luke Ashbridge Truro.

1. Matt Williams Penryn.
2. Ben Gregor Redruth.
3. Peter Jenkin Redruth.
4. Mark Grubb Wadebridge Camels
5. Ben Kemp Truro
6.James Goldsworthy Camborne.
7. Jordan Rose Penryn. (Captain)
8. Adam Lewarne Redruth.

Replacements;-

16. Ryan Brown. St. Austell.
17.Harvey Morcom. St. Austell
18. Jack Scott Wadebridge Camels.
19. Joe Wilson. Bude.
20.Josh Taylor. Wadebridge Camels.
21.Tian Peacock. Falmouth.
22. Gavin Laycock Penryn

Reserves to travel;
Will Webster.
Kyle Spear.

Just three days after Dicky Evans outlined his plans for a new stadium near Truro what better advert to bolster his ideas than the fantastic televised game at the Mennaye on Sunday when the Cornish Pirates gave leaders Worcester Warriors another terrible fright, having won at Worcester’s Sixways ground 23-21 earlier in the season to inflict their sole defeat in the Championship thus far, before eventually going down by 33-30.

It was certainly the best advert this season for the RFU Championship a full house at the Mennaye and a pulsating match, which ebbed and flowed with the Cornish Pirates arriving at half-time 25-7 up having scored three quite wonderful tries in which winger Wes Davies featured prominently. A provider for the first two before scoring the third himself. Two breaks putting first flanker Phil Burgess in, good to see the flanker back in harness and straight back to his best form and then to feed Grant Pointer in at the Newlyn gate corner. Davies claiming the Pirates’ third try following a break from Matt Hopper, who was unlucky not to have been awarded a try earlier during the first half when he looked to have grounded the ball.

Worcester to their credit worked their way back into the game through their forwards aided by a yellow card for hooker Dave Ward to lead 26-25 , also the bizarre decision to go to the TMO to check on Goode’s conversion attempt, which both asssitant referees felt had not gone through the posts. So much for the referee’s decision being final!!

Pirates looked to have won the game when Rob Cook went over late on for their fourth try but once again the Warriors hit back through the forwards with Pat Sanderson getting his second try of the game, it was a good afternoon to be watching down at the Newlyn end of the ground seven out of the nine tries were scored down at that end. Goode this time had no such problems putting the ball through the uprights, however he was lucky to be on the pitch as he clearly held on to James Doherty’s foot when on the ground and as such out of the game a clear professional foul missed by the officials!

So will the Pirates meet the Warriors again in the play-offs? Well if those games are as good as the last two then we are all in for another treat and that can only make the call for the new stadium that much louder.

Penryn maintained top spot in Tribute Western Counties West following a 17-0 win at the Memorial Ground against nearest rivals Wellington.

It was sweet revenge for the Borough against the only side to have beaten them in the league earlier in the season. However, Penryn will no doubt be disappointed that they didn’t score a fourth try to collect the extra bonus point.

Penryn got off to a great start with an un-converted try scored by flanker James Mann after just five minutes, but they were rocked losing flanker Nathan Pascoe after only ten minutes with a shoulder injury, young Jordan Rose coming on off the bench.

Wellington came into the game more but couldn’t turn pressure into points with full back Mark Nichols spurning two kickable first half penalties.
Instead it was Penryn who got the important score before half-time with winger Darren Pellow scoring down in the clubhouse corner for a 10-0 half-time lead.

Penryn started the second period well with a third try scored by scrum-half Taron Peacock following a good run by Rose, fly-half Dave Pascoe was on target with the conversion.

James Mann was his usual busy self having a big game for the Borough with Jordan Rose also frequently catching the eye.
Penryn couldn’t add to their tally and were on the back foot during the closing stages as Wellington looked to salvage a score but the Penryn defence held firm with Rose putting in a try-saving tackle to foil the visitors.

Penryn 17 pts
Tries – J Mann, Pellow, Peacock, Conversion – D Pascoe

Wellington 0 pts

Penryn: A Winnan, D Pellow, C Mann, P Webster, J Chambers, D Pascoe, T Peacock; R Burns, S Harrison (capt), S Heard, A Giles, K Hughes, N Pascoe, J Mann, G Randlesome
Replacement (all used): E Pattison, R Banks, J Rose

Wellington: M Nichols, B Williams, R Porter, L Yeo, K Breeze, R Trott,T Jenkinson (capt); C Shore, J Hendy, T Keeble, D Sims, L Willcocks, D Moore, S Bellamy, C Kitto
Replacements (all used): M Norman, A Shepland, A Bellamy

Referee: Mr S Lord (CRRS)

TAKEN FROM THE CORNISH PIRATES SITE RESUMEE OF THE MEETING HELD AT THE MENNAYE ON THURSDAY EVENING

It was back in 2005 that the Cornish Pirates declared their dream of one day making the Premiership.
It is a dream that is still very much alive, and one given a boost following a meeting that took place in the Travis Perkins Marquee at the Mennaye Field, Penzance, last night.

Addressing a large number of ‘Pirates Futures’ members and members of Penzance & Newlyn RFC, the Chairman of Directors for the Cornish Pirates, Dicky Evans, announced that following meetings with the Cornwall Council a chance of a stadium for Cornwall was REAL.

Evans has put together an advisory team comprising legal,financial and stadium management experts who have analysed the proposals contained in a feasibility study commissioned by the Council. Sensitivity analyses indicate that the Club could proceed to enter into a ten year management contract with the Council to manage the stadium at NIL COST to the Council and also therefore by association the council taxpayer.

The Cornish Pirates intend to put a proposal to the Council by the middle of February with a view to support a Council Cabinet approval in the short term followed by planning approval later in the year.

The achievement of Premiership status is the first target to underwrite forward financial budgets and the Club has now agreed budgets for a fully funded full time squad initially next season as the Pirates aim higher. It will take time to achieve as other clubs have found but the commitment is now in place with the Club moving to the new stadium as soon as its ready no matter where they are league wise.

The reaction of members at last evening’s meeting was extremely POSITIVE in support, but there are still various details to be considered.

As a part of the plans to move forward, the Pirates will have a slightly bigger full-time squad next season, to keep building what is an impressive developing team under the leadership of high performance manager Chris Stirling and the club coaches. In reply, Mr. Stirling commented that he was excited about the prospects, feeling “that the club was not far off now from having a crack at the Premiership.” Besides player numbers, off field staff would also be added to in a couple of areas.

The personal commitment by Mr. Evans would be considerable, but it was also hoped that supporters would participate in a debenture scheme to raise funds- further details to be confirmed in the next few days. The reaction from those present at the meeting certainly indicated that a worthy level of support for such a scheme from prospective debenture holders.

Many people feel that Premiership rugby is both deliverable and viable in Cornwall, which is one of the few genuine HOTBEDS of rugby in the country, and for supporters it is their chance to make it happen.

There was a question and answer session, thanks were expressed to various volunteers, whilst the point was also made that the time had come for Penzance & Newlyn RFC to stand up and manage itself, as Mr. Evans would have to concentrate on the financing for the Cornish Pirates going forward once they leave the Mennaye.

A further important announcement confirmed that Rod Coward, CEO for the Cornish Pirates, had decided to stand down at the end of the season. Commenting on the decision, Mr. Evans said: “Rod has been a fantastic CEO, and thanks are expressed to him not just from myself, but also my family and all of our supporters.”

The Cornish Pirates will in time appoint a new CEO, but for the immediate future it is felt that there is a core of staff who can hold things together until such an appointment is made.

REDRUTH 15 – 21 LONDON SCOTTISH

Redruth had to settle for a losing bonus point with fly-half Aaron Penberthy’s final penalty kick at the end of an absorbing National League 1 encounter with high-flying London Scottish.

It was a game that ebbed and flowed with both sides having periods of domination, however the Scottish exiles’ ball retention proved superior when they strung together multiple phases of play, with giant locks Andy Newman, Josh Brown and influential No. 8 Willie Lipp they had powerful ball carriers to get them over the game line also in scrum-half and former England 7’s star Simon Amor a scrum-half capable of getting a lively backline on the front foot. At the end of the day London Scottish were relieved to get a win in a fixture, which former Redruth player Lewis Calder, who was thrilled to be back in Cornwall, acknowledged to be their toughest away fixture. For the former Scotland U.20 captain it proved to be a bittersweet return to the Recreation Ground, scoring his side’s opening try and then collecting the first of his sides’ three yellow cards towards the end of the second half as a rampant Redruth racked up the pressure.

Redruth especially in the forwards gave the visitors a game to remember typified by a man-of-the-match performance by prop forward Peter Joyce, who at times was like a rampaging bull around the park. Fellow prop Darren Jacques battle scared features at the final whistle, testament to the ferocity of the forward exchanges.

The Scottish exiles took the field to the swirl of the pipes, closely followed by a determined Mark Bright leading out the Reds. The home side kicked off playing up the slope with a strong breeze at their backs. Scrum-half Mark Richards soon settled into his kicking game with some good kicks pinning the exiles back in their own twenty-two. From a scrum near the visitors line the ball was moved right with winger Sean Hawkey making a strong run down the touchline towards the scoreboard corner, the forwards re-cycled the ball with full-back Paul Thirlby squeezing over for the opening try, Penberthy couldn’t add the extras in the tricky conditions.

Despite this early setback London Scottish stormed back at Redruth in impressive fashion, the Reds defence held firm with Bright putting in a bone-crunching big-hit on centre Ben MacDougall.

Eventually the pressure told and following a series of pick and go’s near the Redruth line Calder was driven over by his fellow forwards, fly-half James Brown kicked the conversion for a 7-5 lead after 22 minutes. Five minutes later the exiles doubled their score, Redruth pulled down a powerful maul from the visitors, Brown kicked the ensuing penalty to the Piggy Lane corner, another drive from the lineout saw Lipp crash over the whitewash, Brown’s conversion leaving the visitors 14-5.

Redruth enjoyed a good period of pressure prior to half-time, but just couldn’t find a way through the well organised Scottish defence, with Joyce Chris Fuca, Steve Wood, Sam Parsons and Nathan Pedley all sniffing a chance before the door was slammed shut. Penberthy was left with a drop-goal option, which flew past the upright.
Playing down the slope second half Redruth needed an early score, there was an early score, but it didn’t go the Reds’ way. Another scrum near the Redruth line saw the irrepressible Lipp pick up and stretch his big paw over the line for his second try of the match, once again Brown was able to add the extras and the Scots seemed set fair at 21-5.

To their credit Redruth raised their game putting the Scottish exiles under severe pressure, the Reds got over the line but Richards was held up. Bright went close on two occasions shortly afterwards but lost the ball over the line and then knocked on near the line. Scottish were clearly infringing under the intense Redruth pressure. Eventually referee Mr. Davies had enough sending both try-scorers Calder and Lipp to the bin in the space in the space of a minute. With a two man advantage Redruth finally got some reward from Mr. Davies as he awarded a penalty-try with Penberthy adding the conversion.

Scottish cleverly managed the remaining time they were short of players with Brown also missing a penalty shot at goal. Bright had a storming run down the grandstand touchline only to be hauled down by winger Tim Holgate. Fresh legs gave Redruth renewed impetus with Nick Simmons on for Richards making a good break into the exiles twenty-two, which lead to a third yellow card for the exiles for replacement hooker Craig McGrath and Penberthy the chance, which he took, to claim a losing bonus point for his side’s brave display against one of National League 1’s front runners.

Redruth 15 pts
Tries – Thirlby, Penalty-try, Conversion – Penberthy, Penalty – Penberthy
London Scottish 21 pts
Tries – Calder, Lipp (2), Conversions – Brown (3)
Yellow Cards – Calder (64), Lipp (65), McGrath (79)

Redruth: P Thirlby, S Hawkey, S Parsons, N Pedley, M Bowden, A Penberthy, M Richards (N Simmons 69); D Jacques, R Brown (M Gidlow 57), P Joyce, D Cook, L Collins, C Fuca, S Wood (O Hambly 57), M Bright (capt)
Replacements (not used): J Wright, S Kenward

London Scottish: J Bordiss, T Holgate, B MacDougall, G Trueman (capt), D Howells, J Brown, S Amor (O Walbyoff 63); A Clarke (M Johnson 57), T Standfield (C McGrath 57), A Fahey, A Newman, J Brown, B Lonergen (M Soden 75), L Calder, W Lipp
Replacement (not used): A Karonias

Referee: Mr. Phillip Davies
Crowd: 775
Redruth man-of-the-match: Peter Joyce

Redruth Reaction
Whilst disappointed not to have won the game Redruth’s Director of Rugby Daveid Penberthy was nevertheless happy to have got some reward from the match “Yes I am pleased we have got some reward, I think our performance especially in the second half was outstanding, every player who took the field for Redruth gave their all. We talk about working for each other playing to the top of your individual game if we do that then the performances will come, to restrict them to four (points) and to come away with a losing bonus point ourselves is bit of a moral victory. Don’t get me wrong we are not happy to have lost, but we need to look at our first half performance and dissect that, but overall I think we are moving in the right direction, there are a lot of sides who have to come here and if we perform like today then I think we can beat them.

Penberthy was especially pleased with his side’s defence “They were a very good side well organised and that comes from a professional outfit, when you can work on these things day in day out then you have got a massive advantage on other teams. They were well organised in defence and pulled as around the field in the first twenty minutes when we conceded two soft tries, the first was almost inevitable as we were at that point under so much pressure, then to concede another just after was disappointing. After our half-time chat I really can’t fault anybody, our heads never dropped even when we conceded a third t, we rolled up our sleeves and got stuck in. In the second half we obliterated their scrum Peter Joyce and Darren Jacques were immense. Sean Hawkey certainly showed some good form today and Sam Parsons continues on the comeback road, showing glimpses of the form when he was with us on loan a couple of seasons ago, Nathan Pedley is as always solid and dependable. Mark Richards and Nick Simmons both gave us plenty of forward momentum. We forced them to infringe and they paid the price with two men in the bin and we took advantage so fair play to us, both sides defended really well but on the day they were just that little bit more clinical.

“When Aaron had that kick at the death my thoughts went back to the Cambridge game when he missed a similar kick to get us a point, but I think today shows just how far he’s come along since that set-back and that goes for the rest of the side too, so overall I think you can say that there is light at the end of the tunnel”.

REDRUTH 26 – 0 CORNISH ALL BLACKS
It was Red faces that were smiling at the end of another pulsating Cornish derby at the Recreation Ground.

The margin of victory was one that only the most fervent Reds’ supporter could have dared dream of before the match, however Redruth were good value for their win in the only National League 1 encounter to survive the weather this weekend. A win that lifts them out of the bottom two in the table.

Redruth couldn’t have wished for a worse start with scrum-half Mark Richards sin-binned with barely a minute on the clock. The Cornish All Blacks looked to attack from the scrum option they took from the penalty award just five meters out from the Redruth line, however they contrived to infringe and the opportunity was lost and their afternoon went downhill from then on.

Aaron Penberthy got the scoreboard ticking with a seventh minute penalty, there was further home joy as full back Jack Nowell crossed for Redruth’s opening try as the first quarter came to a close.

With the Cornish All Blacks all at sea, Redruth sensed the game was there for the taking. The Redruth forwards took the upper hand and scored a second try just before half-time from flanker Steve Wood for a useful 13-0 lead.

The All Blacks almost found a way back into the game when centre Ryan Westren latched on to a loose pass, however the centre needed support as Redruth got back to cover the danger. Winger James Hawken also looked to have a chance until he stripped of the ball by a fine tackle from Penberthy.

Errors continued from the visitors as the pressure mounted as each minute passed, flanker Jake Childs was yellow-carded for All Blacks after 51 minutes to compound matters. Mark Bright was having his usual influential performance for Redruth so when he was also yellow-carded with just nine minutes left many Redruth hearts were in their mouths. They needn’t have worried two strikes by Penberthy in the space of five minutes eased any fears, the first a penalty from 35 meters as the hapless Mal Roberts got into a pickle that led to the penalty and then a drop-goal to put his side more than two scores ahead at 19-0.

With the game won it was fitting that Bright now back on was on hand to score Redruth’s third try picking up from a five metre scrum to power over in Hell fire corner, Penberthy’s conversion sealing a satisfying win for the Reds and piling more pressure on the Cornish All Blacks.

Redruth 26 pts
Tries – Nowell, Wood, Bright, Conversion – Penberthy, Penalties – Penberthy (2), Drop-goal – Penberthy
Yellow Cards – Richards (1), Bright (71)

Cornish All Blacks 0 pts
Yellow Card – Child (49)