Redruth 10, Barnes 12

Barnes won at Redruth for the second season running to record their first win of the current campaign thanks to four first half penalties from fly-half Josh Hammett, writes Bill Hooper.

The Redruth performance was about as inspiring as the weather, damp, dank and miserable and left Director of Rugby Nigel Hambly lost for words and not happy at the final whistle.

Despite playing down the slope first half the Reds failed to capitalise as they slipped into a morass of errors, wrong options and lack of urgency.

In reality Barnes didn’t have to play that well to win the game, sensing Redruth were having an off day they took full advantage.

Hammett kicked three penalties mid-way through the first half, with the second a monster effort from inside his own half.

That settled the visitors leaving Redruth to play catch up rugby and their plans for recovery were rocked when they lost influential fly-half Richie Kevern to bad ankle injury, which entailed a long delay.

Before half-time Hammett kicked a fourth penalty to give the visitors a 12-0 lead at the break.

Redruth needed an early score if they were to have any chance of a comeback and it came from an interception try when centre Connor Gilbert latched on to pass to run in from 60 meters.

The Reds enjoyed some good territory and looked to build through the phases, centre Jack Simmons was held up over the line and when Barnes lost a player to the sin-bin, No.8 Brad Howe was able to finish off a long passage of play near the Barnes line to score Redruth’s second try.

Crucially, neither score was converted and despite further chances Redruth couldn’t get another score, instead Barnes got back downfield and had the chance to seal the game but Hammett sliced his penalty chance.

The final whistle sent the Redruth faithful home in sombre mood to match the weather.

Redruth: Shepherd, Vinnicombe, Simmons, Gilbert, Bonds, Kevern, Oulton; Hodge, Brassington, Williams, T Prisk, J Prisk, Fox, Stevens (c), Howe. Reps: Barnes, Tompsett, Grubb, Simmonds, Stacey.

Redruth scores: Tries - Gilbert, Howe.