Well, I witnessed something this weekend like nothing I have ever witnessed
before…..Munster v Biarritz at the Millennium Stadium in the Heineken Cup
Final! The atmosphere was unbelievable, the people brilliant, the stadium
was a sea of RED and the result the only one it could have been!! We were
lucky that we met some very nice people throughout the weekend and had lots
of good laughs. A group of us make the annual pilgrimage to the European
Final each year, and whilst previous finals have been good this one was
exceptional! However from a fantastic atmosphere on Saturday to one that you
could cut with a knife on Sunday….Leeds v Watford in the soccer play off
final! A handful of police having a good time on Saturday to 400 walking a
knife edge on Sunday.

We chanced getting into a bar in the centre of town on
Sunday, succeeded, but were down in Cardiff Bay by mid
afternoon……Football seems to attract this yob mentality and it gives the
game and its genuine supporters a bad name. On saying that, we did meet up
with a few genuine Leeds fans later in the day, they were “spot on” and
shared a real good time with us at the Packet pub. Also, if they ever read
this…to George and Gail from Munster….what a great couple you were and
thanks for sharing such a great time with us…..also to Martin and his mate
from Pontypridd, hopefully we will meet again one day….

On to other matters closer to home, commiserations to the County team who
put up a great fight against Devon but could not avoid the drop into the 2nd
tier championship next season. Congratulations to all our players who
appeared in the games played this month.

Please don’t forget the EGM on Monday 5th June at Redruth School. This
meeting is for members only and is being held with reference to the possible
move to Tolgus Farm. It is essential that as many members make the effort to
come as possible.

On Friday 2nd June the club will be holding a Players Presentation Evening
starting at 7:30pm. This event replaces the Dinner and there will be a
buffet and disco. MP Julia Goldsworthy will make the presentations and many
of the players will be in attendance. There are still a few tickets left
priced at

The Club is appealing for someone, an individual, group of friends, or a business, to run an Auction in the late Autumn. If you have the experience, or maybe want to gain the experience, then please contact David Thomas on 01209 217419 or mobile 07944 633106. Email me if you wish at davidredruthrfc@aol.com.
This fund-rasing venture is key to assisting the Club in its 2006-07 season , you do not have to be a member ( or even like rugby ! ), so please contact us if you fell you can help.

Well, the AGM is behind us and the work of planning for next season is well underway. It

The Club is looking for Volunteers for next season to help in ANY way YOU feel that YOU can. From behind the bar, on the ground, helping on a Committee, in the Shop, with the Players….reduced Annual Membership to all Committee Members is offered by the way, so please call David Thomas on 01209 217419 or e-mail davidredruthrfc@aol.com for more information. We can’t promise our new barman will be always be pulling the pints.

It was a case of so near yet so far for Cornwall as Devon overcame a determined and passionate Cornish side showing 7 changes from the one that took the field against Gloucestershire at Camborne just two weeks ago.

A crowd of about 1600 witnessed Cornwall’s best performance of the three matches this term but ultimately the unbelievable, which was always unthinkable, became stark reality as Devon march on to Twickenham next week to defend their crown and Cornwall are relegated to play in the second-tier Shield competition next year.

Scott Hobson shone for Cornwall, debutante Fly-half Mike Provis gave a performance that belied his 18 years, try-scorer Villi Ma’asi was always a threat, whilst Redruth’s pair PJ and Craig Bonds gave their all with credit. A mention too for Ashley Lawton, replacement for Cornwall and who came on early to figure admirably for most of the match.

Well done to Graham Dawe’s men, who outscored Cornwall by three tries to two in a game that was always in the balance almost right to the end. If only that first game had been played at Redruth….

This was the final game of the 2005-06 season at the Recreation ground.
Who knows, perhaps in a couple of seasons time Cornwall may be playing their, and the, final match ever on the hallowed turf. Only time will tell…

Photos from the game below, also a massive Gallery on the Photos section.

It gives me great pleasure to give my 4th report on rugby at Redruth for the
season 2005/2006.

The season has been both demanding and difficult and when you think that
every person associated with rugby here holds down a full time job it really
brings home the amount of commitment required. Out of the 14 teams in our
league 10 have full time staff either in coaching or Director of Rugby
roles!

Some people may think that the season just gone was a disappointing one, on
the contrary, we consolidated our position in National 2 and achieved our
highest league placing since the inception of the leagues back in 1987.

We had a great start and were fortunate to be favoured with 3 home games in
our first 4 outings. We won all 3 of these, the first being against
Wharfedale with our only bonus point win of the season! We had an acceptable
middle of the season and reached Christmas in 5th position. The New Year got
off to a great start with a home win against high flying Esher and a hard
earned victory at Harrogate one of only 2 away wins for the season. The end
was disappointing with only a draw to show for our efforts out of 8 games
played. We always knew it was going to be hard and we knew that a good start
was essential. The 2nd half of the season was a hard slog and your
opposition gets to know the way you play. Technology that is now available
makes this task even easier and with full time staff available scrutinising
and analysing their opposition on a regular basis, makes the task even
harder to be innovative and change game plans etc. However our goals were to
consolidate, to be competitive, to continue to develop our youngsters and to
win the County Cup.

Our achievements:-

We consolidated.

We won 10 games out of 26 played in the league and won 2 out of 3
played in the National Trophy.

We targeted 52 points and we got 51pts.

Our full league playing record was P26 W10 D1 L15 Pts For 430 Pts
Agst 486.

Our points difference was better than 4 of the teams that finished
above us and our total points conceded, 486pts, was only bettered by
champions Moseley (415pts),Runners Up Waterloo (370pts) and 3rd placed Esher
(407pts).

Of the 15 games lost we gained 8 bonus points for finishing within
a converted score.

Top Points Scorer was Gavin Donald with 70 points.

Top Try Scorer was Lewis Vinnicombe with 13 tries.

In the league we scored a total of 51 tries and conceded a total of
59.

The teams who finished below us were Halifax, promoted from National
3 North last year as champions, Henley, relegated from Division 1,
Harrogate, who have been in this league for the last 13 seasons and Orrell
who were relegated from Division 1.

We progressed to the 6th Round of the Powergen Trophy.

We beat 1st Division Doncaster in the 5th Round

6th round achievement was our highest ever.

Our disciplinary record has been well documented but we were not the
worst! We picked up a total of 16 yellow cards throughout the season,
Stourbridge were worst with 27 yellow cards and 1 red!

We continued to blood our youngsters with no fewer than 19 Colts
playing National League or Trophy games with 8 making their debuts.

We lost the cup final and were victims of our own poor discipline
but I also feel the standard of refereeing that night was poor.

We had an horrendous run of injuries. A total of 27 that constituted
players not being available. 13 of these resulted in players missing more
than 1 month of the season.

On the positive side, there was 1 ever present – Sam Heard played in
all league and cup matches – a total of 30 games.

The challenges for me personally were to retain our status in the Top 40,
retain a good squad, perform within my budget and to have enjoyment. As
stated previously, it has been very hard, it’s a big commitment for me
living some 135 miles away and very demanding. It has, on occasions, made me
seriously think about my future involvement but the club plays a very big
part in mine and my family’s life and I will be continuing for the
foreseeable future.

Talking about the future, ours looks very good…

We have learnt harsh lessons.

We know discipline and mistakes can cost us dear.

Other experienced teams at this level punish you severely the moment
you slip up.

We will continue to use and bring on our youth players.

We will continue to consolidate our status within the Top 40.

We will win the CRFU Cup.

Just remember many teams who make the step up, fall back down very
quickly…Launceston did a few years back…be proud of the teams
achievements, and just to clutch at straws, after week 1 of the season we
were top of the league!!!…only 3 other teams achieved that feat throughout
the season!!

The club suffered two appalling tragedies over the season, both at different ends of the
scale…first was the fire and I’d like to thank everybody who worked so
hard to restrict the blaze and for all the subsequent work carried out on
the stand and clubhouse. The other was the tragic circumstances surrounding
the passing of Ralph Blewett. When you hear things like this it puts
everything into perspective. Rugby is only a game that we all watch and play
for enjoyment. Whilst trying to be as professional as we can, we must not
forget the traditional values and Ralph epitomised them. He was as genuine
as they came and real nice bloke. He was enthusiastic about our achievements
and shared them with us and he was a great help to me when I was trying to
find employment for players. He was a great clubman and will be missed by
everyone.

Elsewhere in the club things have been progressing brilliantly.

Colts are champions at Under 17 and Under 18 level and were losing
finalists in the Under 19 final.

They reached the last 8 of the National Competition with only 1 home
game …again.

At this point I would like to convey my sincere thanks to Simon Blake who
does an incredible amount of work to ensure our Colts team are the best.
Simon’s contribution is immense and he has been the foundation that we have
been able to build on that has brought us our success over the past 4
seasons. Also I would like to thank Chris Allan, Jimmy Trinder, Alan Pedley
and John Seymour for the tireless efforts.

At Mini Junior level:-

Cornwall County Champions at Under 12, Under 14 and Under 15 level.

Cornwall Plate Winners at Under 16 level.

County 10′s winners at Under 15 level and the Under 15′s were also
losing semi finalists in a European Challenge staged at London Irish back in
April.

County 7′s winners at Under 16

Bath Festival winners at Under 7

Hayle Festival winners at Under 11

My apologies if I have missed anything there, but my thanks goes to the
parents and coaches for the continued support and commitment.

On Player development:-

A number of Colts will be joining the senior squad next season and
the future does look good.

It’s also very rewarding to see 2 of our current 1st XV players, and
ex Colts, being rewarded with full time contracts at the Cornish Pirates
next season, well done to Lewis and Sam.

Scott Hobson who joined in September and made his league debut at 17
represented England Schools at Under 18 and Under 19 level.

Lewis Vinnicombe became the 1st Redruth player to gain England
honours at Counties level.

The Development/2nd XV had another great season but I do feel they were
robbed of the 2nd XV Merit Table. Once again we fall foul of CRFU
bureaucracy and teams who refuse to play us…what do we have to do! However
there were some great results on the way none more so that a great win at
Exeter Chiefs, a 1 point home defeat against West Country Warriors and a
sterling performance against Bath Academy. Next season we hope to compete in
the newly formed Tamar League with Launceston, West Country Warriors
(Plymouth) and Exeter plus games against senior Cornish sides and Bath. The
3rd team will compete in the newly formed CRFU Merit Table and this team
will comprise of players just leaving Colts and need some further
development before they make the step up to the Development/2nd XV. Also,
hopefully, this will ensure rugby at Redruth every Saturday!

My thanks go to a whole host of people:-

Firstly to my wife for her support…

To the players and their partners.

Huge commitment this tear with over 9000 miles travelled. We have
spent the equivalent of 10 full days travelling!

To Nigel and the rest of the coaches and I am delighted that Nigel
has agreed to carry on….we need him!

To Dick Whitney for his contribution

To the captains – John Navin, Craig Bonds, Mark Richards and Richard
Carroll.

To the Executive for their continued backing.

Guy, Michelle, Denise and Paul for their brilliant efforts with
Physio etc and to Roly Joseph.

Dave Ricketts for his organisation.

Alan Jenkin and Match & Grounds.

Peter Flack for Fixtures.

Ken Tullett for the administration of player registration.

Keith Martin for his legal advice on disciplinary issues.

David Thomas for updating the website regularly with my comments and others.

To John and the bar/kitchen staff.

Peter Andrew and Bill Tallack.

To John Bealing, Derek & Tracey Brooking and to the late Ralph
Blewett for their generosity and support of players.

Above all, to you the members and supporters without whom we would
be nothing.

The challenges to come are massive and your continued support is absolutely
vital. There are many exciting things on the agenda to be discussed in the
next few weeks that could benefit the club hugely.

Thank you for your support and I Iook forward to receiving it in the future.

David Penberthy

Rugby Manager

______________________________________________________________________

Thank you to the 90 or so members who braved hurricane-like torrential wind and rain to attend the meeting at the Club on Thursday evening.

Whilst Treasurer Mr Spencer was realistic and honest in his appraisal of the Club’s finances, it is clear we have a loyal and supportive Membership, great backing from many local businesses and individual sponsors, and a team that, in reality, and unlike others in recent years, have done well to survive in National Two, and would have done so even if the bottom three had been relegated.

David Penberthy flew in from Pontypridd, and returned to Taunton immediately afterwards. In learning that the first-team squad suffered 27 injuries last season, with 13 missing a month or more, and that Gavin Donald was the top points scorer with just 70 ( Lewis Vinnicombe scored 13 tries = 65 points ), it was an achievement to finish in 10th position. The ever-present last season was Sam Heard, playing in every league game.

Next year, the overall mileage for the First team in their travels will increase by 133 miles, maybe almost 9,000 miles on a coach.Incredibly, last season’s travelling in hours clocked up was the equivalaent of 10 WHOLE DAYS ON THE BUS together. Move over Big Brother !!!

The newly touted Tamar League, involving Lainceston, Plymouth and Exeter, will mean more second team fixtures, and a third team will be entered in to the Merit table. So fewer blank Saturdays next season.

The Club will be hosting World Cup evenings on the Big Screen throughout June, also plasma televisions will be installed in the main bars.

Officers from the Club were duly re-elected, Mr Ron Spencer ( Executive Committee Chairman and Hon Treasurer ), Mr Roger Watson ( Hon Secretary and Clubhouse Chairman ), Mr David Thomas ( Assistant Hon Secretary and Sponsorship ), Mr Gavin Richards ( Assistant Hon Treasurer and Sponsorship ) and, last but not least, Mr Derek Collins ( Club President ). Messrs Martin Caddy, Ken Tullett, Keith Martin, David Penberthy and David Bone were all confirmed as Executive Committee Members.

The other piece of big news from the night is that an Extraordinary General Meeting has been called for ALL members at Redruth School on Monday June 5th at 7.30pm. See separate announcement for details.

Thanks again to all those who came, to everyone who has contributed in any way to the Club in what was an ” annus horribilus ” in many ways off the pitch, and roll on the first home League game against Esher on September 9th.

HAMBLY TO STAY AT REDRUTH

Redruth head coach Nigel Hambly is to stay in charge at the Recreation Ground for another season.

Hambly confirmed this week he would be continuing at the National 2 club after earlier revealing he was thinking of stepping down to spend more time with his family.

“I have had a good chat with my wife and I am going to stay for another year.

“After the way we ended the season there is still lots to do.”

Things are not looking too good for Cornwall’s survival in the top tier of
the County Championship following Saturday’s unexpected defeat at Hertford.
The team now face the stern test of playing and beating Devon, at Redruth,
on Saturday…one hell of a task!

Last Sunday the Annual Mini/Junior Presentation day at the club.
Once again it was well attended with hundreds of children receiving their
certificates and trophies. I was at both and was really pleased to see the
reaction on the youngsters faces as their names were read out and they went
up to collect their trophies and certificates from Chris “Fandabidozy” Fuca,
Peter Joyce and Richard Carroll. I would like to make a point here of
thanking all the parents and the coaches for their great effort and
contribution over the season and look forward to more next year and to all
the players an even bigger thank you for a great effort over the season, you
have all done the club very proud…well done!

Many people will have seen that Mark Scrivener has left the club and joined
Launceston. The last 18 months has been tough for Mark following his serious
knee injury in October 2004. He made a welcome return to the 1st XV back in
October 2005 up at Halifax, but from then on struggled with form and his
fitness. I spoke with Mark a couple of weeks back and he did not indicate at
that time that he was signing at Launceston but did say that he had a couple
of options he was looking at…..well he’s gone now and we will move on…no
doubt our paths will cross next season at some stage. I must be honest
seeing Marks’ photo splashed all over the Western Morning News and Sunday
Independent riled me slightly as Mark is still a contracted player at
Redruth and remains so until the end of May…I thought maybe it would have
been proper not to announce the signing until such time that he is a free
agent……

Andy Robinson has announced his latest England squad for the trip down under
in June…is this likely to be another “Tour From Hell”????? I sincerely
hope not as there is some great talent included, Matthew Tait, Tom Varndell
and Magnus Lund to name a few along with some experienced older heads like
Mike Catt and Pat Sanderson…no doubt we will all be following the progress
on SKY Sports throughout….

This weekend I am off to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to watch the
Heineken Cup Final between Munster and Biarritz…what a great occasion this
is likely to be. I have been very fortunate to have seen 5 previous finals
and they just get better and better…..I have been fortunate to have met
some really great people from Munster in the past and I really hope they
sneak it on Saturday…they certainly deserve it! Cardiff should be hectic
as I’ve just found out that Leeds and Watford soccer fans are also in town
this weekend for their football playoff…..sounds interesting!

The following week its off to Twickers with the Reds Under 14 team for their
tour. Whilst no rugby is being played the boys and Dads will watch the
Guinness Premiership Final between Leicester and Sale on the Saturday and
then return to Twickenham on the Sunday and watch England play the
Barbarians…should be another great weekend!

So that’s it for another week or maybe 2…depending what my recovery is
like from a big weekend in Wales….

See you all at the AGM on Thursday.

David Penberthy

Rugby Manager

With the County Championship now in full swing, it gives a lot of us time to
reflect on the season that has just finished. I suppose I was as
disappointed as anybody with the sequence of results from February through
to the end of the season, but I am still adamant that we have come an
extremely long way thanks to the incredible amount of work put in by the
players, coaches, management team and all the people at the club who have
worked so hard through so many difficult circumstances this season.

We are
still a National 2 club which was our main priority, we will be all the more
streetwise after our experiences this year, we have major plans to take the
club forward in order for it to survive at this level and go beyond, so all
is not gloomy! Those people who do stick knives in are normally those who
have no idea what amount of work goes in to ensure we are competitive, my
suggestion to those is to join the club and be proactive and do your bit to
make the team succeed on the field on a Saturday……

So what’s happening next year on the League front. The only certainties at
this stage are:- There is no relegation from National 1, Moseley and
Waterloo have been promoted to National 1 and Orrell have been relegated to
National 3 North. Cambridge and Bradford and Bingley are promoted as
champions of National 3 South and North respectively and the final place in
National 2 will be decided this weekend when North Walsham entertain
Nuneaton at North Walsham. I suppose if I am selfish I would hope Nuneaton
would win as it would mean less travel next year, but North Walsham have
been old adversaries for a number of years now and I would be good to renew
acquaintances with them…we shall see!

The AGM is nearly upon us, next Thursday at 7:30pm in the clubhouse, and I
hope as many people turn up as possible. I am in the process of putting my
report together and will look forward to presenting it to members on the
evening.

Cornwall’s championship campaign did not get off to the best of starts with
a home defeat against Gloucestershire last weekend. Cornwall had a good team
on paper but did not really perform on the day. Maybe too many minds were on
the “Decider” against Devon! Gloucestershire had some very good players,
many of whom we have come across this year. Duncan Murray, who was loaned to
us some 2 years ago, was outstanding, as was Stean Williams who has played
against us for Dings Crusaders and Stourbridge.

This weekend the boys travel
to Hertford to take on Hertfordshire. Congratulations to all our guys who
were involved, namely Lewis Vinnicombe, PJ Gidlow, Mark Richards, Sam Heard,
Sam Harrison, Ashley Morcom, Richard Carroll, Damien Cook, Nathan Pascoe and
commiserations to Darren Jacques who had to cry off on the morning of the
game due to illness.

The Senior Players Presentation Evening is at the club on Friday 2nd June with
tickets on sale now at