Redruth 17, Old Redcliffians 27

Redruth slipped to a disappointing defeat in their final home league game for 2018, which dampened the Christmas spirit prevalent pre-match, writes Bill Hooper.

At times the Redruth faithful were left nebulous, bemused, exasperated when their favourites coughed up possession, chances and showed a lack of patience as they looked to breakdown a well-organised Old Reds’ defence.

As for Old Redcliffians, they recorded only their fourth win of the season which pulls them away from the relegation zone. Fly-half Kieran Hill kicked a vital twelve points for the visitors which proved key to the final outcome.

Redruth began well but the errors soon crept in to their game much to the frustration of the home support.

Old Reds took the lead with a routine penalty from the excellent Hill before drawing further ahead on the half-hour mark when wing Henry Bird sped in for the first of his tries, Hill adding the extras.

Just on half-time Redruth finally had something to cheer when centre Jack Simmons finished off a fine move with fly-half Richie Kevern slotting the conversion.

A penalty from Kevern tied the scores early in the second half and it looked like Redruth would power on, but Old Reds had other ideas with two quick-fire tries, thanks to interceptions, in the space of a couple of minutes from Bird and centre Jermaine Jones both bettered by Hill putting them in a commanding position.

Redruth tried to find a way back into the game, they eventually did four minutes from time with a try from flanker Matt Gidlow converted by Kevern but Hill’s drop-goal virtually on time snatched away a losing bonus point from the home side and confirmed Old Reds’ win.

Redruth’s forward coach Gareth Tedstone said after the game: “We didn’t turn up, we were flat made too many errors, we had a plan going into this game but we seem to have forgotten it on the pitch. We have to pick ourselves up ahead of next week’s game at Taunton.”

Redruth: T Notman, B Janes, J Simmons, C Gilbert, S Cornish, R Kevern, J Oulton; J Tompsett, R Brown (capt), C Williams, J Clemson, E Pascoe, B Fox, M Gidlow, S Stevens. Replacements: L Kivalu, J Hodge, J Heazelton, A Hosking, D Bonds.

Redruth: Tries, Simmons, Gidlow, Cons, Kevern 2, Pen Kevern, Old Redcliffians, Tries, Bird 2, Jones, Cons, Hill 3, Pen, Hill, Drop-goal, Hill

Referee: James Milliner (RFU)

Crowd: 560