Photo- Redruth’s Brad Howe receives the Tony Pill Memorial Cup as man-of-the-match
REDRUTH 54-7 CAMBORNE
Words By Bill Hooper, Photos Phil Trevarton
Redruth comfortably retained the Rodda’s Milk Cup against old rivals Camborne in front of a large crowd on a sunny Boxing Day afternoon.
It’s been a difficult ten days for the Cherry and Whites and any chance of Redruth offering some seasonal goodwill to their near neighbours were soon dispelled with a powerful display of running rugby that ran Town off their legs.
Prior to the kick-off there was a minute’s silence in memory of John Bishop a stalwart of Redruth both as a player and administrator who passed away recently.
From the kick-off Redruth played at a far higher tempo than Camborne could cope with and it was no surprise that they went ahead through a try from flanker Mark Grubb who took centre Pale Nonu’s inside pass to score under the posts.
Former Mount’s Bay player Everard Reid, who has been playing with Launceston until recently, guested for the Reds at No.8.
Full-back Brett Rule added the conversion, the first of his six successful kicks in a personal haul of seventeen points.
Nonu was again prominent in the build up to Redruth’s second try scored by Rule moments later.
Both Redruth locks Brad Howe and Luke Hattam had influential games, with Howe being awarded the prestigious Tony Pill Cup as Trelawny’s Army man-of-the-match for a huge eighty minute performance.
The mercurial wing Alex Ducker set up the third try against one of his former clubs with a dazzling run before hooker Ben Priddey slipped a scoring pass to skipper Chris Fuca.
There was a brief fracas between some players which all ended amicably. Camborne fly-half Rhys Brownfield was just short of the line with Town’s best chance of the half.
Redruth spurned numerous chances before scoring a fourth try before the break through centre Joel Matavesi and a 26-0 half-time score-line.
Both sides made changes at half-time but it was business as usual for the Reds as Ducker ran down a kick through for try number five.
Huge credit to Camborne replacement Nick Wellstead who put in a double shift having played in the morning for the Reserves against the Reds in a game Redruth won 31-17.
Replacement wing Dean Bonds scored a remarkable try in Hell fire corner which involved some mid-air acrobatics.
Fuca and Matavesi then completed their brace of tries with the Redruth centre adding the conversion to his own score from wide out.
Photo- All friends after the final whistle
The Camborne faithful had already begun to depart but those that remained where rewarded as Camborne got on to the score sheet thanks to a try from replacement wing Matt Blee with Brownfield adding the extras.
Redruth’s head coach Marek Churcher was pleased with his squad’s performance. “It was good to get a run out for the squad before the New Year program and the game against Chinnor, the boys looked sharp and showed their class. Delighted also that no one appears to have picked up any knocks.”
In the Camborne camp there was disappointment at the score-line but after the problems the club have suffered the players were just glad to get back playing. “We were just happy to play today”, said club captain Richie Kevern after the game. “Our focus is on our next league game at Hornets, we had a few players missing today but they will be back, whilst we have signed Rhodri McAtee who will bring a lot of experience to the side during the second half of the season.”
Redruth: B Rule, M Bowden, J Matavesi, P Nonu, A Ducker, A Taylor, J Oulton; T Phillips, B Priddey, J Tompsett, B Howe, L Hattam, C Fuca (capt), M Grubb, E Reid.
Replacements (all used): A Wright, R Brown, T Prisk, B Fox, D Matthews, D Bonds, L Vinnicombe
Redruth scores: Tries, Grubb, Rule, Fuca (2), Matavesi (2), Ducker, Bonds, Conversions, Rule (6), Matavesi
Camborne: M Westren, B Drew, J Simmons, J Semmens, R McAtee, R Brownfield, R Kevern (capt); A Zacharovas, S Bartle, J Drew, D Cook, M Hearn, J Goldsworthy, C Sayer, M Woolcock
Replacements (all used): N Wolstead, S Macdonald, M Blee
Camborne scores: Try, Blee, Conversion, Brownfield
Referee: Zerran Bell (Devon RRS)
Crowd 1500
TASC Tony Pill Cup man-of-the-match: Brad Howe (Redruth) Having won the award last year Howe retained the cup with a strong all round performance.
Bill Hooper presents Locryn Williams with the Tony Mead Memorial Shield as TASC U.20 POY for 2016 at half-time at Redruth on Boxing Day.
