So another season is with us. I have no idea where the summer has gone and I still haven

The Breast Cancer fundraising It’s A Knockout tounament proved a huge hit at the Club on Sunday. Over

Redruth ran in 6 tries without reply at Falmouth on Saturday afternoon. Dominating territory and possession, and with a fine blend of youth and experience, tries from Ed Carne, Johnathan Tann, Stuart Crew, Richard Carroll, Mark Lea and Oggy Wright, with two conversions from Scott Martin and one from Jason Pengilly, saw the Reds home comfortably.

Thanks to Falmouth for putting up a fine and spirited display, who, now coached by former Redruth Supremo Barry Trevaskis, will look to a good season ahead and return to the Western Counties West league.

For Redruth, Ben Priddey showed up well, all over the park, Richard Carroll came through the full 80 minutes on his return and Neil Douch also came on for the last 15 minutes. The young lads who have just come up from Colts level will have learnt much, and the numerous Redruth supporters dotted around the ground, some perhaps going on to see Status Quo in town later, will have taken heart from this good win and now look forward to the big kick-off next Saturday.

Redruth : Churcher, Carne, Teixeira, Thomas, Lea, Martin, Rule, Job, Tann, Luty, Crew, Carroll ( C ), Priddey, Rainey, Pascoe. Reps – Britton, Heath, Wright, Douch, Pooley, Gidlow.

Falmouth : J Instance ( C ), Horne, Pond, Slater, Spiller, Dawes, Barber, Palmer, Langdon, Colvin, Hughes, S Instance, Watt, Cremin, Gay. Reps – Laity, Trick, Pollard, Pearce, Brown, Wellington, Biggins, Burgos, Warwicker.

Photos David Thomas and David Ricketts.

Dear all

Hello from Lanzarote…

Well, it’s warm and sunny here, but not to say my mind is not on the beginning of the new League season, starting with a trip to Stourbridge on Saturday week…our second ” nearest ” neighbour in the League !

Last weeks Bay result came as a shock I must say, and obviously we were disappointed at the result. There are a number of things to work on before the 2nd, but supporters should not be too despondent. We have good players who I am sure will step up to the mark when it matters.

Training this week has been no holds barred, I can assure you !

I am still working on new players, in between the Magners, and will announce any developments there as soon as I can.

The Cornwall RFU have listened to criticisms of the County Cup Final being played in the murk on a Wednesday in April. I notice the Final next year will be played over the Easter weekend, 6-9 April, day, time and venue to be confirmed. News on the new County coach is expected sooner rather than later, no bad thing I believe.

Sorry it’s short this week, but it’s by text not e-mail ! The “Development ” team are at Falmouth on Saturday, and have a look at the try we scored two weeks ago against Exeter ( below ), and take heart. The boys and coaches will not let you down.

More next week, must go grab the sun lounger, and Mark Bryant and Ian Eslick have another Magners waiting for me…

See you all when I get back

Wish You Were Here

David Penberthy

Rugby Manager

The Club is currently putting together next seasons Match Day Programme, once again kindly sponsored by Eden Print of Redruth ( for all your printing needs on 01209 202190 ).

The middle pages, featuring the teams and match day officials, and clearly the most viewed pages in the programme, are up for grabs to any potential advertiser.

We invite any potential advertisers to contact Sponsor Chair David Bone on 07970 223714 ( email d.bone@somar.co.uk ) or Gavin Richards on 01726 822150 ( email gavinsrichards@aol.com ).

The award-winning programme will again be in full colour, rates are very competitive, all businesses large or small are very welcome, with space ranging from Quarter to Full Page. First issue will be on sale at the home game with Esher on September 9th, and last year nearly 6,000 were distributed and sold.

As always, David and Gavin can be contacted now for any sponsorship or partnership arrangement. Player and kit sponsors, Match Day Hosting, Man-of-The-Match, Match Ball, Mascot etc.

We would also welcome Corporate sponsors to join with the Club in what is a very exciting time for the Reds. Again, we are just a phone call away. Many thanks.

This website has had NEARLY TWO MILLION ( 1,952,957 ) hits for the whole of last season. There are 7570 hits per day on average, with 500 visitors per day. They spend nearly 5 minutes each on the site, looking at the latest news, photographs and highlights videos. YOU ARE ONE OF THEM !!!

The season, whilst not ending in spectacular fashion on the pitch, conversely saw an increase in use of this site, with 330,000 hits in April alone, 11,000 hits per day, and 725 daily visitors !!!

The site is being re-vamped for the new season, but will continue to bring news as hot off the press as we can, with more photos and videos, the continuing David Penberthy’s column, updated Player Profiles, and access to buying Reds Shop items.

The site, sponsored to date by Evolution Gym and Samurai, offers a golden opportunity for a number of businesses to come on board, advertise themselves on key pages and at popular points throughout the site, and be able to update their ad when needed and appropriate. We reach a world-wide audience from the feedback we receive, and with a potential historic move in the offing, this must be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get your name to a huge audience, locally, nationally and internationally.

Please contact our Sponsorship Chairman David Bone on mobile 07980 665919 or email d.bone@somar.co.uk. Alternatively, David Thomas mobile on 07944 633106 or davidredruthrfc@aol.com.. We look forward to hearing from you.

BAY STORM TO VICTORY OVER VISITING REDS

Mounts Bay player-coach Ricky Pellow is expecting big things from his team this season after they underlined their credentials with victory over visiting Redruth. With the Reds leading 15-14 at the break, a storming second-half display from the Bay brought them rich rewards as they claimed an excellent 42-15 success.

Leading the way for the newly – promoted South West One side was Kiwi fly-half Thom Berry, who impressed on his first outing for the club.

Berry took just three minutes to open his account, scoring the first of six tries for the Bay, all of which he converted.

Jamie Semmens followed him over the line just minutes later, before Redruth finally got their act together. Fly-half Mike Hook reduced the arrears with a penalty, before winger Nathan Pedley raced over in the corner on 12 minutes.

Redruth’s fightback continued aplenty as skipper Mark Richards sniped off the back of a maul to cross on 25 minutes, Hook’s conversion giving them the lead at 15-14.

However, no sooner had the Reds got themselves back into game, than the Bay were back on the offensive with deadly affect.

Just five minutes of the second period had been played when the lively Palepoi Nonu latched on to a deft chip over the top from Berry to score by the posts.

Berry converted that effort before adding the extras to Semmens’ second of the day, the centre making the most of a hole in the Reds’ rearguard.

It did not get any better for the National Two side, who had centre PJ Gidlow sent to the sin-bin following a high tackle on Tom Edyvean.

With the extra man, the Bay added further converted tries through Nonu and John Morrison, the latter scoring with his very first touch of the game.

Afterwards Pellow remarked: “We’re delighted with the win. Barring two or three, that was pretty much a Redruth first team, so to get a result like that is very pleasing.

“The most pleasing thing from today was that we stuck to our game plan throughout. Our aim now is to build for the season and hopefully push for promotion again.”

Redruth coach Andy Hawken could not hide his disappointment at the final whistle. He said: “We knew coming down here it would be a tough game – and it was. There were some good points, but we know we have got a lot of work to do before the first game against Stourbridge.”

MOUNTS BAY 42 15 REDRUTH ( Noon ) ST IVES XV 27 7 REDRUTH XV ( 3pm )

Maybe it was the early kick-off at Noon. Perhaps the side were not prepared for the Bay charging at them from the off. Could they be missing the key injured players ? A little complacency against lower league opposition ? Well, it’s not the ” real thing “, is it ? Possibly the guys thought it was the Pirates they were playing and expected a tanking. Missing the coaches perhaps, all away on separate family committments. Rueing the absence of last week’s Man of the Match and skipper Craig Bonds, attending his brother-in-law’s wedding ? Maybe some of all of those.

The ” real thing ” is, however, less than two weeks away, a trip to Stourbridge for the first game in the new National League two season. With no more ” friendlies ” between now and then, there is a lot of soul searching and hard work to be put in after the abject second half show at the Mennaye on Saturday.

Make no mistake, after going 14-0 down after less than 5 minutes, the Reds fought back well with tries from Nathan Pedley and Mark Richards, and a conversion and penalty from Mike Hook. Half time 15-14 up, the supporters had every reason to expect that quality, class, superior fitness and experience would shine through. We had to rub our eyes and pinch ourselves that it wasn’t a bad dream in the end. A number of supporters went back home and did not make the short to St Ives for the afternoon game. Now that is disappointing.

Mounts Bay, make no mistake, are a very good side. They wanted it, were hungry, played hard, chased hard and won very well. Thom Berry, who was debuting at 10 after flying in from NZ, made a huge impression, and Nonu’s physical presence will be a handful for any South West One side. Indeed, one local wag, who arrived late, asked why the National Two side were wearing blue…

Fair enough, bring on some new blood, give every one a go maybe, but the lack of continuity, confidence and remembering what winning is all about seems to have gone, maybe a stark reminder of how last season tailed off – it’s 6 months almost to the day since the last win ! ( Hayle excepted ).

On the positive side, and as Captain for the day Mark Richards said, rather this now than in September. The young lads who played at St Ives defended well, unlike their morning counterparts. And maybe in 4 or 5 weeks time this will all be a distant memory – remember how poorly the Reds played in last seasons pre-season fixture against Exeter’s second string. Nevertheless, this does not inspire supporters who have witnessed three pre-season defeats, conceding 147 points in the process and scoring just 36. There are 5 tough National Two games in September so let’s hope the midsummer madness gives way to Autumnal cheer and the Reds can again show us the form of one year ago. Over to you guys.

A Reds Development side will visit Falmouth next Saturday, August 26th, kick off 3pm.

Reds at Mounts Bay : Martin, Peters, Caruana, PJ, Pedley, Hook, Richards (C), Jacgues, Harrison, Williams, Cook, Collins, Fuca, Navin, Lawton.

At St Ives : Saundry, McBride, Teixeira, Blandford, Keverne, Kenward, Britton, Joyce (C), M Gidlow, Somers, Crew, Trewhella, Rainey, Spargo, Pascoe.

Replacements : A Rule, Priddey, M Thomas, Morcom, Lutey, Pengilly, Fox, Wright.

Selection of photos from the day on the Photo gallery now.

Photos by David Thomas and David Ricketts.

HAMBLY GIVES YOUTH ITS CHANCE

Redruth coach Nigel Hambly has challenged a number of the club’s up-and-coming youngsters to push hard over the pre-season and look to work their way into the first-team reckoning this season. Hambly used last Saturday’s friendly with National League One side Exeter Chiefs to run the rule over much of the playing squad at the Recreation Ground – and he has promised to do the same this weekend as the Reds gear up to face Mounts Bay (12 noon) and St Ives (3pm) in a pre-season double-header tomorrow.

Despite a 78-14 scoreline against the Chiefs, Hambly was able to blood over 30 players against the Devon visitors, an exercise he insists was “highly beneficial” despite the end result.

“People will look at the score and immediately think we are going to struggle this year, but that’s not the case,” said Hambly yesterday. “I’ve looked at the video of the game and I have to say Exeter were excellent. Pete Drewett [the Exeter coach] has obviously come in and added one or two new ideas to their game and they will be a really top side this year I’m sure.”

That said, Hambly knows his team are unlikely to face such strength in their National Two and admitted he was “delighted” with his side’s opening half display against their higher league counterparts.

He added: “I thought first half, particularly the first half-hour, we really competed with them. We were playing at Division One tempo and were causing them one or two problems. Second half we tired a little and we brought on a few of the younger lads to give them a bit of experience.

“Of course you’re always disappointed to ship that many points, but there were lots of good things we could take from the game. Speaking to a few of their guys after the game, it was nice to hear them talk about us causing them a few problems. It means that our pre-season is going well and, as we move towards the start of the season, it will get better.,/p>

“There are things that didn’t go well last week, like our line-out, but our scrummage was pretty solid and we’ve worked on other areas in training this week. There is still lots to do before the Stourbridge game, but generally it’s progressing well. The pleasing thing for me was we were able to run a lot of players last week and put them in a really tough environment.

“For those younger players it shows them what they need to do if they want to progress. Perhaps they’ll see if they train and work hard, that’s the level they can get to, maybe even better,” said Hambly.

Redruth: C Bonds, T McBride, S Peters, J Caruana, N Pedley, M Hook, M Richards, D Jacques, S Harrison, C Williams, D Cook, L Collins, J Navin, J Hosking, A Lawton, M Britton, E Carne, L Saundry, M Thomas, S Martin, A Rule, A Morcom, J Tann, P Joyce, R Spargo, S Lutey, S Crew, C Fuca, PJ Gidlow, N Pascoe.