Redruth just edged the National League 2 South Cornish
derby at the Recreation Ground on Saturday in a tension filled scrappy game littered
with errors on both sides, reports Bill Hooper.
Cornish All Black lock Ben Hilton got the opening try of
the match after 11 minutes following a period of pressure near the Redruth
line. Winger Kerion Lewitt was unable to add the conversion in the windy
conditions, which made kicking difficult all afternoon for both sides.
Redruth looked to get parity on the scoreboard but to the
frustration of their supporters good build up play was wasted as the
error count mounted.
Fly-half Brett Rule missed with his first penalty chance
after 16 minutes, nor could Redruth capitalise when the All Blacks were reduced
to fourteen men as prop Tim Mathias was yellow carded for foul play.
Instead the All Blacks extended their lead to 8 – 0 with
a penalty from Lewitt on 22 following a fine break from centre Lewis Paterson.
Redruth desperately needed to get a score on the board
and it finally came following a fine passage of play instigated by no.8 Tom
Duncan who broke down the blindside towards the Piggy lane corner. Tom Notman,
Darren Jacques and Richard Brown were all involved before the ball was moved
right towards Hell fire corner with skipper Craig Bonds and Chris Fuca
combining to put Bonds in for the try after 24 minutes. Rule couldn’t add the
extras as the score remained 8-5 to the visitors up to half-time.
Unfortunately play didn’t improve much after the break,
but when the All Blacks did look to move the ball through the backs they looked
the more threatening.
The visitors thought they may have scored when a Rule
clearance was charged down behind his own try-line. All they got was a
five-metre scrum with Redruth eventually pushing them off the ball.
On 62 minutes Rule eventually tied the scores with a
penalty as the All Blacks once again infringed.
Eleven minutes later Rule was adding the conversion to
Tom Duncan’s try following a series of scrums up in the scoreboard corner as
the visitors persistently infringed as Redruth looked to capitalise through the
forwards.
The Cornish All Blacks were to have one further chance to
tie the game as a miss-cued kick from Rule fell invitingly to the visiting backs with
winger Ben Turner scoring in the Piggy lane corner on 77 minutes. Turner
couldn’t land the conversion from the touchline and Redruth held out to record
their second win of the season.
Redruth 15 pts
Tries – Bonds, Duncan, Penalty – Rule, Conversion – Rule
Cornish All Blacks 13 pts
Tries – Hilton, Turner, Penalty – Lewitt
Yellow Card – Mathias (19)
Redruth: C Bonds (capt), N Pedley, S Parsons, J Semmens, T Notman, B Rule, M Shepherd; D Jacques, R Brown
(D Semmens 50), P Joyce (C Williams 60), D Cook, L Collins, C Fuca, O Hambly, T
Duncan
Replacements (not used): A Rule, C Bailey, D Bonds
Cornish All Blacks: J Murphy, K Lewitt (J Hawken 40), L Paterson, S Perry, B Turner, L Webb, R Friend; T Mathias (J Keats 70),
J Salter (T Hurdwell 76), B Pow, W Carrick-Smith. B Hilton, W Hodgetts (J Keats 28 – 29), (L Duke 64) T Rawlings (capt), J Lord
Replacement (not used): K Moyle
Referee: Mr. M Caton (RFU)
Crowd: 1,258
