REDRUTH 46 – 24 CORNISH ALL BLACKS
By Bill Hooper at the Recreation Ground Redruth
Redruth gave a cracking display of attacking rugby to deservedly take the spoils in the first derby this season against their old rivals the Cornish All Blacks in National League 2 South.
It was the Reds’ greater fitness and physicality, especially at the breakdown which laid the foundations for a resounding win which delighted their backs coach Steve Evans. He said. “That was very satisfying, it’s not every day that you can score forty-six points against a Launceston side. We had a slow start the previous week up at Taunton, but to come out and score seventeen points – including three tries in the first fifteen minutes – was very pleasing. I think today you saw the rewards of the hard work the boys have put into pre-season, to be able to produce a score-line like that. Every time we had the ball we looked dangerous and we were trying things, if we had had a bit more ball I think we could have scored even more points today”.
For the vanquished, All Blacks skipper Tom Rawlings put on a brave face and was fulsome in his praise in congratulating the Reds on their win. He said. “You never want to lose in a derby game like we did today, we did well to get back with two good tries in the first half, at half-time we looked to push on in the second period but sadly we just fell apart, it’s very frustrating but we did show some character to score two late tries to get something from the game, but fair-play to Redruth they played us off the field, were good in all areas and deserved the win on the day.”
Prop Peter Joyce led out the side in front of the home fans on his final appearance before joining RFU Championship side the Cornish Pirates to thunderous applause of appreciation.
The opening try came from a quickly taken tap penalty near the All Blacks’ try-line following an opening period of sustained pressure. Centre Sam Parsons took the tap to power over after just five minutes.
It got even better for the vocal Redruth faithful just moments later as scrum-half Greg Goodfellow exploited a gap ten meters out to dart in under the posts for the Reds second try, which fly-half Paul Thirlby converted.
Then after thirteen minutes further Redruth pressure saw lock Luke Collins stretch out to dot down a third try for his side. With a 17-0 score the Reds were well in command.
The All Blacks finally managed to get some field position moving the ball along the backline allowing winger Luke Tidball a recent signing from Truro to cross in the Piggy lane corner. Full-back Kieron Lewitt landed a fine conversion from near the touchline.
Redruth continued to look lively with recent signings from Newquay Hornets centre Romy Vassell and Frazer Kellythorne catching the eye, whilst in the forwards props Darren Jacques and Joyce put in some big charges as did No.8 Tom Duncan. Whilst for the All Blacks the Rawlings brothers were always a handful in the rucks and mauls, whilst outside centre Lewis Paterson constantly looked for a gap and Tidball looked sharp and took his try very well.
Thirlby kept the scoreboard ticking over in the Reds’ favour with a couple of penalties, however it was to the All Blacks who got the next try, following a powerful forward drive towards Hellfire corner, prop Tim Mathias barged over for a second Launceston try.
Thirlby brought the first half scoring to an end with his third penalty to make it 26-12 at the break.
You sensed that for the All Blacks to have any way back into the game that they need the first score of the second half.
Instead it was to be the Reds who carried on in the same vein. A fumble in a lineout by Tripcony saw the ball fall to Redruth, the ever alert Kellythorne ran through a static defence to score the bonus point try, Thirlby added the extras for a 33-12 lead.
The All Blacks compounded their misery as flanker Mike Rawlings gave away a needless penalty in front of the posts. The frustration boiled over as All Blacks No.8 Josh Lord and replacement winger Lewis Vinnicombe got involved in some handbags, which warranted no more than a telling off from referee Nick Williams. Shortly after following another penalty award to the Reds some chat-back from Mathias saw his side marched back another ten meters. Thirlby made sure of the points on each occasion.
With just over ten minutes remaining Redruth got their fifth try, a good run out of his own half by Duncan was taken on almost to the try-line by replacement flanker Neil Broadbank, tackled just short the youngster had the presence of mind to off-load to the supporting Collins who got his second try of the game, Thirlby’s conversion putting the Reds 46-12 ahead.
In the final minutes the All Blacks looked to get something from the game and they succeeded with a couple of late tries from winger Richard Bright and replacement prop Mike Roach to take a try-scoring bonus point back up the A.30.
The final whistle saw the Redruth crowd on their feet to cheer the winners of the aptly billed “Inferno in Kernow!”
Next weekend Redruth have a weekend off due to the demise of Rugby Lions, whilst the Cornish All Blacks will look to kick-start their season at Polson against Hartpury College.
Redruth 46 pts
Tries – Parsons, Goodfellow, Collins (2), Kellythorne, Penalties – Thirlby (5), Conversions- Thirlby (3)
Cornish All Blacks 24 pts
Tries – Tidball, Mathias, Bright, Roach, Conversions – Lewitt, Murphy
Redruth: C Bonds, T Notman (L Vinnicombe 50), R Vassell, S Parsons, F Kellythorne, P Thirlby, G Goodfellow (T Peacock 64); D Jacques, R Brown (N Turner 70), P Joyce (C Williams 56), L Collins, D Cook, C Fuca (capt) (N Boradbank 53), O Hambly, T Duncan
Cornish All Blacks: K Lewitt (R Friend 50), R Bright, L Paterson, S Chapman, L Tidball, J Murphy, N Webber; T Mathias (A Meredith 71), T Hurdwell, N Bayliss (M Roach 66), J Tripcony, B J Chapman, M Rawlings, T Rawlings (capt) (L Duke 77), J Lord (M Bolwell 66)
Referee: Nick Williams (RFU)
Crowd:1140
Redruth-man-of-the-match: Darren Jacques