Firstly, many apologies for not writing any notes prior to Christmas. As Dave Thomas explained I was not very well and didn’t get the opportunity to put anything together.

During his “ghost writing” extravaganza he still mentions my “love” of Strictly Come Dancing …. just to put the record straight I can’t bear it! I watched it once, after the Cambridge game, when I was unwell and was at home and it made me realise why I spend most Saturdays at the club … anyway I am sure some find it enthralling and good luck to them !

Well, the Mounts Bay game was a big success both on and off the field, and it ended our league programme for 2008 in fitting style. The evening was bouncing in the club and it was as good as it can be.

However, 2009 presents us with a whole new challenge both on and off the field, and it will need a concerted effort by everyone if we are to come through it. Blaydon, this weekend is a huge game for us and will need all our resolve to get a result.

We are looking for sponsors on match days – Man of the Match and match ball. Every little helps and these packages are relatively small in cost and great for a day out.

Many of you will have received the RFU Raffle tickets. This is a fantastic way of supporting the Club – big prizes – and with 90% of monies collected going back to the club. Please help where you can.

The players Fancy Dress was very well supported with many joining in the fun. Pictures of who was who can be seen on the “Photos” section on the site.

With just five home games remaining, if anyone has any contributions or ideas for our match day programme please let us know. the text is new each week, and copy is permitted up until the wednesday before match day.

Looking back over the past 12 months at the game in general and there have been many changes. A new England management team and a massive challenge for Martin Johnson and his team. I would say England have not got the bookies running for cover at this stage. A huge challenge lies in front of them and I can’t see any major surprises happening there ….. my tip for he 6 Nations is Wales again …..

The Heineken Cup is pretty wide open at the moment, and my initial prediction of Leinster is still possible although they do have to go to Wasps. I think, of the French teams, Toulouse will present the greatest challenge. Harlequins look a good bet as they are playing some of the best rugby I have seen them play for a very long time.

The Guinness Premiership … well I will go with Bath there with London Irish pushing them all the way.

As for players, I believe that Jordan Turner Hall will become a household name and join Delon Armitage as being one of England’s best players. I expect Nick Kennedy to excel during the 6 Nations and earn a Lions place ….. overseas, the Lions will have to watch out for Ryan Kankowski the Sharks back row forward …. what an awesome talent he is.

The Lions tour to South Africa will be a great spectacle and there will be some great rugby played. Once the 6 Nations kicks in we will begin to get some idea of selection. To start, Paul O’Connell is my captain!

The League structures seemed to have been sorted now and we all know what we are playing for. Just need to see some meat on the bones now ….. keep watching here for updates etc as they occur.

Well its only a short chapter this week ….. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy new year and look forward to seeing you on Saturday or if you can’t make it to Blaydon, then at our next home game against Wharfedale on January 10th.

Cheers for now and keep dancing (joke)

David Penberthy

Director of Rugby

With only five home games to go, sponsorship of the man of the Match, and also Match Balls, remain available for key games.

For the Man of the Match: two tickets for the game with grandstand seating, match programmes with names and any other details that you wish to be mentioned, PA announcements, post match on-field presentation to your chosen player, photographs emailed to you.

Match Ball – two tickets to the game plus grandstand seating, programme and PA mentions, with a signed match ball presented to you by the Redruth Man of the Match.

In both cases, you are also mentioned on the website match reports and photos also appear here for the world to see.

Conatct Jeff Knuckey, please, on 01736 850039.

Costs – Man of the Match –

A hat trick of tries from Reds

Three lucky winners for November’s 200 Club draw will see a belated Christmas gift cheque drop through letterboxes in a few days time.

Remember you too can join up to the 200 Club for only

Some of the players and a mystery villain teamed up last Monday to help Consumer Direct highlight the plague that is scam mail.

With the scammer being chased the length of the pitch, after having caught Chris Fuca in a lineout and netted Jamie Tresidder as the players talked, the very serious fact that one in fifteen of us falls victim to a scam of one sort or another was highlighted.

To view the footage broadcast on ITV on Tuesday, click on www.itvlocal.com/westcountry. You will see the scams feature in the news section. Click and play.

ITVs Kathy Wilshere put the piece together, and went on to interview Penzance man Keith Perry, whose good friend has been a victim of such scams.

Call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 if you have been scammed, or for any consumer enquiry.

Some recent highlights, courtesy of Ross Tucknott, from the lead up to the Christmas break and a thank you to the players and coaches.

Wadebridge Camels U12

The Club extends it appreciation to everyone who helped make Saturday a huge success both on and off the pitch.

From the Pirate FM live broadcast in the main bar before kick off to Rudi’s Message playing long in to the evening, it was a superb day.

Particular thanks to Wayne Greenaway at McDonalds for his contribution, to Paul Pearce at Rowe’s and St Austell Brewery for the pasties and pints.

Not forgetting the volunteers whose efforts have been tireless in 2008.

Santa Claus made an early appearance to delight the many children, David Penberthy appeared on the front cover of the programme thanks to former player Andy Hymans, whilst Nigel Hambly and the players capped the day in great fashion – or rather lack of it – with the players’ Christmas Fancy Dress outfits. It really wasn’t always easy working out who was who and what – have a look at the photos to decide for yourself.

Clue- the characters names start with the first initial of the player.

The Inferno in Kernow is over for now, who knows if there will be a re-ignition next year. For now, Happy Christmas to everyone, supporter or visitor to this site. May you all have a healthy and rewarding New Year.

Redruth 41

Tries

Well, an early exit from the EDF Trophy at Bees but what a great performance from the boys. We had taken the decision to give some of the younger players the opportunity to stake their claims following some very impressive displays for the Development Team.

Whilst we lost the game, and have to be disappointed with that, they were many good things that we could take from it. 19 year old Will Penney proved that he is a good player in the making, and players like Steve Kenward gave everything they had. Interesting to note that Birmingham have now drawn the winners of the Wharfedale v Launceston tie so it could have been yet another away tie in Round 4! Mind you, that would have meant two visits to Polson in seven days…Dings Crusaders have had the pick of the draw drawing Leeds at home!! I wonder if the beefy gateman is ready and waiting !

The Heineken Cup threw up some fascinating results again last weekend with the Harlequins v Stade game again taking the headlines. My favourites, Leinster, came a cropper against Castres and now have to beat Wasps to ensure a place in the knock out stages.

The Cardiff v Biarritz game was great although the scoreline was hardly impressive! At half time the scoreboard showed a 10-6 scoreline in favour of Cardiff, at full time there was no change! However, the 2nd half was enthralling with a great defensive display by the Blues. The No 8, Andy Powell, had a great game and will undoubtedly figure in the Lions team in South Africa.

Our Colts played the South West Division Under 18′s on Sunday. The Colts featured a number of the Under 19′s team that have made it to the 4th Round of the National Colts Cup and the South West contained Red players Adam Lewarne and Malcolm Hearn. The result, however, was not the best ever….a hammering by 60 points!

It was not the greatest game I have ever seen with the tackling, at times, non existent. Simon was distraught afterwards and does not deserve players putting in performances like this. There were a number on the field who need a stark wake up call if they think they are to progress within the structure in the club. It was totally unacceptable and an insult to the efforts that Simon and his fellow coaches put in.

The Cornish All Blacks EDF game at Wharfedale was cancelled last Saturday and if the rules are applied as they should be, they will have to travel to Wharfedale this weekend. Now that they know that Bees at home await the winners, i wonder what side they will send.

I also note that Waterloo have withdrawn from the competition due to the fact that they could not raise a side owing to injuries. I read an article just last week about them saying that they have resigned themselves to relegation and look forward to the prospect of not having to travel to places like Cornwall!

I was very interested to read that Jonny Wilkinson is hoping to make another comeback in the New Year and mentioned the 6 Nations. It would be great to think that he was able to do that but is it possible after another horrendous injury? We certainly miss him and will never be able to replace him …. but I would say enough is enough.

I watched the Sports Personality 2008 programme on Sunday night and what a great show that was. It was the best I have seen and the winner, Chris Hoy, certainly deserved his award. Much of it went according to the predictions but the Bobby Charlton award was the most humbling I can remember. What a great man ….. and what a great footballer, his brother Jackie summed it up in his speech and Sir Alex said he was the greatest ever.

I recall many of those wonder goals over the years especially those that got England into the 1966 World Cup Final, if ever anyone deserved a lifetime achievement award it was him …. also the Helen Rollason award was thoroughly deserved by former England full back and BBC commentator Alistair Hignell, again a very humbling experience but proof that things can be achieved through adversity.

Lots of things happening this weekend in the clubhouse with the Christmas Party after the game. Great group Rudi’s Message are providing the entertainment later on as well ….plus one or two other surprises. As most of you will know, it’s become a tradition this season with the Hellfire 100 boys getting the captain PJ to say a few words and down a beer, joined by their choice of Man of the Match. Watch out for this on Saturday, about an hour after the final whistle, as the rugby results come in and the Bath rugby Sky game is replayed as live in the main bar.

Whilst trawling around the internet the other night, all in the interests of rugby of course, I decided to have a look on You Tube and came across some footage that is worth having a look at!! Go to You Tube and search on “bloodsammy” and have a look at “me bored on a sunday” ….. recognise the player!!!!!

Not much I can say about this weekend’s game ….. we all know the importance of it and what is at stake …. I am sure there will be a huge crowd and a great atmosphere. The gates open at 11:30am and the first 100 get a free pint or a pasty.

Face painting, McDonalds vouchers, and great to see Allen Fleckney from Pirate FM broadcasting his show live as the atmosphere builds from midday.

I also gather that Radio Cornwall are covering the game live and in full with Dick Straughan and Peter Richmond in the commentator’s seats.

The Mini/Junior group had their party at the club on Sunday and it looked to be well supported. I popped in for ten minutes in the afternoon and things were very much in full swing at that stage.

Whilst he is no longer a player at Redruth, I would like to congratulate Josh Matevasi on getting into the England Under 20′s team. Josh could very well be playing against us on Saturday but did figure in the Reds Under 15 and 16 team a couple of years ago. I have known Josh since he was a youngster and he is one of the nicest boys you could meet. I hope he gets his England cap and continues to rise up the rugby ladder./p>

The club shop is opening on Saturday, of course, and also on Sunday as well as Christmas Eve … lots of goodies there to buy just in time for Christmas …..

That’s it for this week, hopefully be able to write some bits and pieces next week prior to Christmas ….

See you all on Saturday for a true Christmas Cracker….and what a shame Austin Healey lost out in Strictly…

David Penberthy

Director of Rugby