Wanted: Fridge and Freezer

Posted under Supporters News by admin on Friday 28 August 2009 at 12:00 am

Yep, you read it right: no joke headline, just an honest request on behalf of a Redruth player!

If anyone has a spare fridge, freezer or fridge/freezer combo which they are willing to donate to a good home, could you please contact Angela Bright on 07901703929.

Thank you!


Hold me, thrill me, kiss me, kill me!

Posted under Director's Commentary by admin on Thursday 27 August 2009 at 12:00 am

For me there is no other place to start this week than talking about U2 and their incredible concert in Cardiff at the weekend. In all honesty I don’t think I have ever been and witnessed such a brilliant gig, it was just out of this world! From the minute they entered the arena to the the sounds of David Bowie and Space Oddity to the minute they left some 2 hours later they had the crowd eating out of their hands. They played all the great songs including Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bad, With or Without You but my favourite was I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For with a great ending where the whole crowd joined Bono singing Stand By Me .. simply brilliant! It was also a "Super Saturday" in Cardiff in the Walkabout watching England putting themselves in a match winning position in the Ashes 5th Test, using my Boomerang Card to get even cheaper beer and visiting Chip Pan Alley at 6:00pm… now that is a first! All in all a great weekend with Sully, his wife Lisa and Neil Ryan plus we met a few others who we knew from a little way down the road!!!
 
Last week I forgot to mention the Hellfire 100 Golf Day (deliberately of course!!) that we had at Falmouth Golf Club … well organised by Mark Bryant and Martin Weekes! About 20 people, not all 100 members, but pretty good golfers braved the elements to complete the 18 hole course. We tee’d of in 3′s (well some managed to tee off!!) and had a good bit of fun….I didn’t really see it that way .. I was shocking to say the very least .. I have to say a real big thank you to my partners on the day Roly Joseph and Gary "Ghost" Wills who tried in vain to keep encouraging me but failing miserably! At the 7th I was going in, I had had enough … the humiliation of driving a ton of earth further than the ball on many occasions got the better of me BUT I kept going and did not get any better but just kept dreaming of the 19th hole .. that did not disappoint either!! All in all it was a good day with some good laughs along the way .. as I said on the day when asked if I would take up golf … "There is more chance me being an astronaut than a golfer"!!!!!!!!!!!! … mind you if I do it next year maybe a bucket of balls prior to the day may at least tell me something …. don’t go!! …
 
On Saturday, the Development XV visited Truro for a pre season encounter. This, again, was a very valuable run out giving a mixture of players valuable match time and the opportunity to take their fitness levels to the next stage. This coming week we travel to Penryn on Tuesday night with a 6:45pm kick off and on Saturday Penryn visit the Recreation Ground with a 3:00pm kick off …. be good to catch up with Manners as well!
 
On Friday night just gone the Colts started their pre season with a couple of games against Truro College. Whilst both games were lost I am sure that Simon got a lot from it.
 
The Members Night went reasonably well on Thursday evening although I did think there may have been more people there, but I suppose many took the opportunity of buying their memberships early and therefore decided not to make it …. nevertheless I hope that those who did attend left comfortable in the fact that things are progressing nicely in preparation for the new season but at the same time understanding the volume of work that is needed to ensure we continue as a Top 40 club … hopefully the short insight I gave to the Player Registration process was also informative and gave understanding of how complicated the process has become!
 
On Friday evening, in the clubhouse, we hold the Annual Players Reunion. Now this event is not solely for players, so all are welcome to join us for a social evening prior to the start of the season the following Saturday. It all kicks off from around 7:30pm and there will be a buffet served. I hope this also reaches former and current players and hope to see as many of you there as possible …
 
Over the past few months the club has diversified in many ways in its use of the clubroom, there has been many wide and varied activities taking place. Chris Allen has taken the lead here and has done a brilliant job. Only last Friday night we had the Holman Climax Male Voice Choir along with the Mevagissey Male Voice Choir singing and socialising in the main bar. However, this Thursday sees something completely different! In conjunction with Radio Cornwall, there is a world record attempt on the number of people wearing Y Fronts in any one location at one time!! Bring your Y Fronts and join in the fun!!!!…
 
Our replica kit has now arrived by the box full and is on sale in the outlet in Fore Street and at the Club Shop. We have a new design player’s shirt and a complete new range of off field and leisure gear. The quality of the Samurai range is excellent once again. We have a range of fleece jackets, hoodies, polo shirts, T Shirts and waterproofs. There is also a Limited Edition mug available … its well worth a visit to one of the outlets…..whilst on this subject, on Saturday at noon some of the players will be in the shop in the town, along with myself and few others from the Management Team …. come along and meet the players and look at the new range first hand …
 
Had a bit of a shock on Friday!!!! … when reading an article on Sky text I noticed the name "Penberthy" in large headlines … "what could this be?" I thought … I investigated further and saw the Christian name David … "bloody hell, what have I done?" …. anyway after reading further it was not me but an Aussie name sake, a leading journalist down under, who had made detrimental remarks during the closing stages of the 1st Ashes Test about England 12th Man Bilal Shafayat and his appearance with spare gloves on a couple of occasions to allegedly slow up play ….. there were also some bad comments sent to him by a "friend" which he subsequently published. In summary he or his newspaper has been fined and Shafayat awarded damages which he will donate to his charity … better watch what I write in future!!! ….
 
Former Wasps Director of Rugby Ian McGeechan has reportedly been offered a two-year contract to take over at Harlequins.

According to The Times, McGeechan is set to replace the departed Dean Richards at the Twickenham Stoop. Richards recently resigned following an internal investigation into the ‘Bloodgate’ scandal that has rocked the Guinness Premiership outfit. Richards was subsequently banned for three years for his part in the fake blood injury during the Heineken Cup defeat to Leinster – with physio Stephan Brennan banned for two years and winger Tom Williams for four months.

McGeechan is currently a free agent having left Wasps at the end of the season and finished his commitments with the British & Irish Lions. He was due to assist London Scottish in an advisory role – however, the Scot is believed to be seen as the ideal person to clean up Harlequins’ image.

Big news down in South Africa … Bryan Habana has accepted a contact offer from Western Province and is now almost certain to move to the Western Cape next year. Speculation had been rife that World Cup-winning wing Habana, 26, would move to France or stay at the Blue Bulls, with Bayonne favourites in France to capture his signature. But when Habana flew to Cape Town for ‘exploratory talks’ last week it was thought that it was a display of dissatisfaction with the Blue Bulls’ offer and an attempt to raise the price by using WP’s counter-offer, which will also see him playing for the Stormers in the Super 14.

Gavin Henson’s career looks increasingly likely to be over, after a newspaper in Wales revealed he has been granted indefinite leave by the Ospreys. Henson did not turn up for the team photo on Tuesday, after having missed the official kit launch and media open day the week before, and no mention was made of his injuries in a media release detailing players not available for Friday’s pre-season clash with Leeds. The Western Mail has said that Henson has been given special dispensation to stay away from the Liberty Stadium in order to ‘sort himself out’, a clear sign that the injuries and constant media pressure may have taken their toll psychologically on the talented centre.

So that’s it for this week, he countdown is really on now with Cambridge only 10 days away … should be a cracking start to the season!

Cheers for now

David Penberthy – Director of Rugby


Membership applications – Postal

Posted under Commercial News by admin on Wednesday 26 August 2009 at 12:00 am

Please note that due to the membership secretary (me) going on a much needed and well earned hoilday to Portugal postal membership applications must arrive before the 5th of September to be processed before I take flight.
I will be back rested and bronzed on the 20th Sept when normal service will be resumed.

Alan Nettle
Membership secretary


Membership Books

Posted under Supporters News by admin on Saturday 22 August 2009 at 12:00 am

Membership books have now all been sent out and should be landing on your doorsteps in the next day or two.

Alan Nettle – Membership secretary


Are You Being Served?

Posted under Supporters News by admin on Friday 21 August 2009 at 12:00 am

We're searching for volunteers to help out at the Reds shop this season. Call Jeff Knuckey on 01726 850039 for more details.


Membership 2009/2010 – Updated again

Posted under Supporters News by admin on Thursday 20 August 2009 at 12:00 am

Mighty Brighty’s Mako Mullet

Posted under Director's Commentary by admin on Wednesday 19 August 2009 at 12:00 am

Our game against Plymouth on Sunday provided us with encouragement but also showed that there are still areas we have to work on leading up to our game against Cambridge on September 5th. A good crowd enjoyed a physical encounter that saw Albion field a much changed side from last week. However the most amazing thing about Sunday had nothing to do with the rugby!! ….. did you watch Usain Bolt run his 100m in the World Championship 100m Final? It was totally unbelievable … I don’t think I can ever remember seeing something as incredible as that! To put this into perspective, Bolt covered the course – from a standing start – at 23.35 miles per hour. However, he dashed from the 60m to the 80m mark in 1.61 seconds – 27.79 mph. If he could maintain that speed over the whole 100m, with a flying start, he would record a time of 8.05 sec. Britain’s Bradley Wiggins was only traveling 7.03mph faster than Bolt when he won Olympic track cycling gold in the men’s 4km individual pursuit in Beijing ……phew!
 
Good snap of Brighty in action as Tasman Mako’s gained a good result at the weekend …. they beat Counties Manukau convincingly.

Mark Bright
 
The Mako’s dished out one of its best ever Air New Zealand Cup performances to thrash Counties 51-15 in a sodden clash at Trafalgar Park in Nelson.

In the first clash between the provinces, Tasman proved its worth to keep the visitors out of the game through clever play in the heavy rain.Tasman was completely dominant at the breakdown and never offered Counties Manukau a chance with both flankers and No.8 Mark Bright combining well to secure their own rucks and wreak havoc on the visitors’ tackle-ball. The loss keeps Counties Manukau struggling at the bottom of the points table while Tasman, with the bonus point, leap-frogged most of the field to sit comfortably in third place with its healthy points differential. Think there is a bit of a battle going on between Brighty and someone who is not a million miles away from me … its to do with hair and not rugby though … we’ll see who has the best "mullet" when he returns!!!
 
Finally there looks to be closure over the Harlequins incident …. former boss, Dean Richards, has been banned from coaching worldwide for three years for his part in a fake blood injury. Tom Williams faked injury to allow fly-half Nick Evans to return to the field in a Heineken Cup tie against Leinster. Winger Williams’s initial 12-month ban has now been reduced to four months. Quins’ fine was increased to


Plymouth vs Redruth match report

Posted under Match Reports by admin on Monday 17 August 2009 at 12:00 am

Details of Redruth’s gutsy away defeat at the hands of Plymouth this weekend are now available from the Western Morning News here.


Cheats and Cricketers

Posted under Director's Commentary by admin on Tuesday 11 August 2009 at 12:00 am

Sorry about missing last week, was on holiday and had spent a rather hard weekend at the Edgbaston Test! (Bit of an understatement that!!)
 
I would like to extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of Derek Bray who passed away recently. We held a minute’s silence for him on Saturday and his funeral will be held at Penmount on Thursday 13th August at 2:00pm. Derek managed the bar for many seasons and more recently worked for Steve Abbott.  
 
However, the pre season matches are under way and a good size crowd enjoyed a very good, competitive game of rugby at the weekend. Results at this stage of the season do not matter, its all about gauging where you are fitness wise, how your new players fit in and adapt and to give all players the opportunity to push for a starting place in the 1st game of the season. We have a very long and challenging season in front of us so your support, as usual, is absolutely vital ….
 
The South African Rugby Union will tomorrow answer charges of alleged misconduct at a hearing in Dublin on Monday, following the incident where South African players wore armbands to protest against the ban handed out to Bakkies Botha.

SARU were charged by the International Rugby Board after the Springboks wore ‘Justice’ armbands for the third Test against the British and Irish Lions on July 4, in protest at Bakkies Botha’s two-week suspension. Lock Botha was found guilty of a dangerous charge on Adam Jones during the second Test in Pretoria. Lions prop Jones was left with a dislocated shoulder and ruled out of action for six months. Botha failed in an attempt to overturn the ban – he had failed to bind onto a team-mate before cleaning out the ruck – sparking the Springboks’ protest at Ellis Park.

The truth always comes out in the wash, however dirty. But ERC may take another cycle to rid itself of the Harlequins stain this week. In the wake of Dean Richards’ resignation over the ‘fake blood’ incident during last season’s Heineken Cup quarter-final, ERC are set to re-open their case against club, departed coach and physios Wendy Chapman and Steph Brennan, while considering the appeal against the 12-month ban of Tom Williams, the player who had hitherto been treated as though his secretion of a blood capsule onto a pitch and use thereof had been entirely his own idea.

Roger O’Connor, the ERC disciplinary officer, has appealed against the panel’s verdict against Quins. An independent appeal committee will be convened and they have the power to dish out a more severe sentence, which could extend to throwing the club out of the tournament. That course of action is becoming more and more likely as different punishments are considered, while Richards’ flourishing coaching career is in jeopardy. He might not be banned for life, but the stain of ‘cheat’ that will be all over his CV will be of grave concern to future prospective employers. Compared to the looming storm, Richards’ unhappy spell at Grenoble – from which the Quins job was a rescue – will seem like an Alpine picnic. The culmination of all of this has been as long and drawn out as it has been unpleasant. It took months to convene the disciplinary hearing, even longer for the truth to come out, and that only with an unpleasant piece of blackmail on the part of the disciplinary committee whose scapegoating of Williams and lack of reprimand to anyone else have managed to prick the consciences of Richards and, it is hoped, others.

It has been perhaps the game’s most damaging incident in a year where the tarnishes to the game’s image look like they’ve been put there with a paint-ball gun. You can look inside and forgive the Bath players who combined stupidity and naivety in equal measure, you can frown sternly at Sergio Parisse and Schalk Burger, waggle a poignant finger and bark: ‘never again’. But how do you forgive a club, coach, physio team and player who all conspired together with such elaboracy to flaunt the rules and the spirit of the game, who planned such an intelligence-insulting deception of not only the officials and opponents but also the millions of people who tune into what is the world’s best sub-international rugby tournament and the sponsors who help to make it what it is? Over a very long period of time, you might be able to forget. The next disciplinary panel will let us know how long that period of time is when they dish out their punishment. It will be interesting to see where, at the end of it all, Quins stand. Their current rebuilding following relegation four years ago – which Richards had done so much for – is now largely rubble and dust, the Harlequins name and brand in black books everywhere.

New signing Jonny Wilkinson believes Toulon should be aiming for the Top 14 title this season. The southern French club beat Australian tourists the Brumbies 20-6 in a friendly at the Stade Mayol on Thursday to clinch their third victory from three pre-season matches. Toulon struggled to avoid relegation last term but have recruited heavily for the forthcoming campaign, Wilkinson being their marquee player.

As mentioned previously, I went to the 3rd Ashes Test at Edgbaston last week and what a good time I had …. mind you on the Saturday I felt like my backside had been on a BBQ all night! Curries in the daytime are unheard of but one at 2:00pm on the Thursday and one at 10:00pm on the Friday had a catastrophic effect! I haven’t said much at all about the Ashes so far … maybe because there isn’t much to discuss! Lets be honest we are hanging on by the skin of our teeth …. we should never of hung on in the 1st, we were pretty ok in the 2nd, we had no bowlers that could deal with ordinary conditions in the 3rd and the rain did play a big part and we were totally annihilated in the 4th. Now there is discussion about bringing back Ramprakash, Trescothick and others … yes the middle order is in need of a tidy up but there are players in the Lions set up who deserve a chance … I would like to see Matt Prior pushed up the order, bring in Steven Moore to keep wicket and go for Robert Key, he certainly deserves a go after being there or thereabouts for a number of seasons. If Trescothick was going to commit to returning to Test Cricket then I would say go for him but for a "1-off" its all for the wrong reasons … we will see ….
 
Following our game this Sunday against Plymouth Albion at Brickfields, the Development Team will travel to St Ives on Tuesday night. I believe kick off for this game is 6:15pm. Then next Saturday its Truro, kick off for this game will be 2:30pm and its at Truro. I won’t be at that game as I am off to Cardiff to watch U2 on the 360 tour … can’t wait!!
 
So the real stuff gets closer and its now only 3 weeks to go ….. hopefully our first game against Cambridge will attract a bumper crowd to get the season under way …. the new kit has arrived and looks very smart particularly the new playing shirt. All will be for sale in the club shop and at the outlet in the town so get in there quick and get your gear!
 
Back next week …
 
Cheers
 
David Penberthy
Director of Rugby


Redruth 27 Plymouth Albion 13

Posted under Match Reports by admin on Sunday 9 August 2009 at 12:00 am

Report courtesy of Ed Bawden

REDRUTH  27 PLYMOUTH ALBION 13

Old Rivals Redruth and Plymouth Albion kicked off the season with an entertaining friendly at the Recreation Ground, played in sweltering heat, the Reds running in four tries to the Devonians one.

The Reds, who finished 3rd last season have been hit by a number of high profile departures during the summer, Skipper PJ Gidlow (Birmingham & Solihull), Rob Thirlby (Moseley), Luke Collins (Cornish Pirates) & James Mann (Knee injury). However Director of Rugby David Penberthy has brought in a number of quality signings including Adryan Winnan (Cornish Pirates), Sam Parsons, Jamie Semmens, Brett Stroud and Fraser Clivered (all from the late Mounts Bay) in addition to Royal Marine Gareth Evans from Albion and Steve Evans who has been playing in Italy.

Graham Dawe


Next Page »

All members by now should have received their renewal letters. 

New members are of course very welcome, please use the form below.

Membership can be paid at the season opener with Cambridge on 5th. September.

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