Redruth 41 St Ives 7
Redruth ran in seven tries in the first of a series of pre-season friendlies for both sides. Fielding over 30 players on the day, the home side will be happy to blow away some cobwebs but there is plenty of work with new National League season only 20 days away.
Early skirmishes were even but pulsating. After six weeks of pre-season training, Redruth flew from the blocks in a full-blooded opening quarter. Both sides elected to run the ball as quickly as possible, tapping penalties at every opportunity.
After just eight minutes St Ives wing Raphael Baragwanath was yellow carded for a late tackle on Sam Newman. Redruth capitalised opened the scoring after 16 minutes when centre Lewis Vinnicombe made a decisive break from his own 10 metre line to send wing Scott Murray over in the left hand corner. After some feisty play referee Richard Harding spoke to both captains to ask for calm.
Back row Lewis Moyle took advantage of a quick Chris Fuca tap penalty on 27 minutes for the second try, converted by Grant Thirlby, before Redruth veteran Nathan Pedley took advantage of a missed touch kick to touch down, Thirlby sneaking his kick over the bar to send Redruth into a 19-0 lead.
Just before half time another tap penalty saw St Ives centre Fraser Kellythorn squeeze over in Hellfire Corner, well converted by Ashley Goode.
Leading 19-7 at half-time, Redruth made thirteen changes for the re-start, which led to some scrappy play as the players strove to gel, but back row Tom Duncan eventually bullocked over in Piggy Lane corner following another quick tap penalty.
Redruth, whose pace, fresh legs and fitness began to tell, added further tries from Dean Bonds, new signing Tom Notman and, after a great break from the foot of a scrum on 80 minutes, new recruit Jordan Rose. Rule added one conversion.
Redruth Director of Rugby David Penberthy was pleased at the final whistle, happy that his young side all had the chance of a good run-out. Whilst some areas need some attention, he was happy with the performances of all the squad, singling out Rose and Moyle in particular for praise. Moyle is seen a bright prospect and made the most of his opportunity.
Penberthy sees next Saturday’s game against Taunton as the first true test, when several key players will return, including talismanic Kiwi Mark Bright. Taunton are a side on a steep climb through the leagues and, with a hatful of strong signings over the summer including Tony Yapp, the Reds’ nemesis in last season’s derbies against the Cornish All-Blacks, they look set to find National 2 South this year a walk in the park.
Redruth also visit St Ives on 24th August and will take the main starting squad to Dings Crusaders in Bristol on August 28th. All roads lead to the first home game against Wharfedale on September 4th and some key positions remain up for grabs.
The only down side for Redruth was a serious ankle injury to Exeter Academy loan player Jack Nowell in a friendly game on Friday, picked up whilst playing for Truro College against, of all sides, Redruth Colts. He is likely to be sidelined for up to ten weeks.
Scorers:
Redruth: tries – Murray, Pedley, Moyle, Duncan, Bonds, Notman, Rose. Conversions – Thirlby 2, Rule.
St Ives – try: Kellythorn. Conv – Goode.
Redruth: first half: Adam Hosking, Murray, Vinnicombe, Pedley, Newman, Thirlby, Simmons; Jacques, Brown, Morcom, Cook, Lewarne, Fuca, Moyle, Duncan.
Redruth: second half: Dean Bonds, Copeland, Simmons, Keverne, Brett Rule, Ashley Hosking; Hearn, Gidlow, Joyce, Penney, Duncan, Hambly, Morgan, Rose. Other replacements: Rayner, Gregor, Alan Rule.
St Ives: Morrison, Baragwanath, Kellythorn, Stevens, Mander, Goode, Western; Noott, Taylor, Williams, Jenkins, Wheeler, Evans, Rainey, Morgan. Replacements: Prisk, Purkin, Middlemiss, Tresidder, Brokenshire, Moyle.
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Good result lads! Where will the pictures be posted?
There’s a slideshow of match photos in the sidebar now sent in by the ever-dependable James Glasson – I expect to be sent some more on Saturday too from other sources.
Match photos are going to be hosted from the club’s Flickr account now, and people can add their own to the Redruth Rugby Gallery group: I’ll get a slideshow of the whole stream onto the site very soon: probably on the home page, so if you want to see your pictures there…!
Ha ha ha – now I need to fix the comments layout too. That one slipped through the testing net!!!