Redruth 35, Bury St Edmunds 28

Two cracking tries from full-back Matt Shepherd put Redruth on the way to a bonus point win against a plucky Bury side, writes Bill Hooper.

It was a win that pleased Redruth Director of Rugby Nigel Hambly.

He said: “It’s always good to win at home and I thought at times we showed some good progress, Fraser Honey put us in the right areas of the park, whilst Matt Shepherd was a constant threat taking his scores really well, a mention to for Brad Janes who had a tidy game.”

The visitors played down the slope first half and it was they who got the opening score with a penalty from fly-half Kodie Drury-Hawkins.

Indeed it got even better for Bury when flanker Tom Brown went over following good work from hooker Dan Walsh and wing Alfie Garside, Drury-Hawkins banged over the conversion for a 10-0 lead.

Redruth needed a quick reaction and it came from a penalty kicked by fly-half Fraser Honey.

On the 20 minute mark great work on the wing from Brad Janes saw him cut inside to score near the post for Honey to convert and tie the scores.

Drury-Hawkins nudged Bury back into the lead with his second penalty, before Redruth made the most of a kick to the corner with scrum-half Jack Oulton sniping off the maul to dive over for an unconverted try.

A third Drury-Hawkins penalty gave Bury a slender 16-15 lead at half-time.

Redruth upped the intensity at the beginning of the second half and it paid dividends, great play from lock Jamie Prisk set Shepherd up for his first try that Honey converted.

Just moments later Shepherd was running in for his second try with Honey again on the money with the extras to put the home side 29-16 up.

The back row worked hard with Mark Grubb putting in a big shift as did skipper Brad Howe.

A big drive from prop Jess Tompsett almost led to a try, however it resulted in a penalty that Honey slotted.

Having looked in control Redruth left the door open allowing Bury to score two tries through Walsh and then lock Matt Bursey with Drury-Hawkins adding a conversion to bring them back in it.

Redruth supporters’ nerves were calmed when Honey kicked his third penalty to put his side 7 point clear.

Good work from wing Lewis Vinnicombe and centre Jack Simmons almost put Shepherd in for his third try but the ball was knocked on.

Redruth travel to Tonbridge Juddians next week, the previously unbeaten side slipped up at home to Henley Hawks on Saturday!

Redruth: Shepherd, Janes, Simmons, Gilbert, Vinnicombe, Honey, Oulton; Phillips, Ma’asi, Williams, Prisk, Clemson, Grubb, Fox, Howe (c). Reps: Brown, Tompsett, Pascoe, Stevens, Kessell.

Redruth scores: Tries - Janes, Oulton, Shepherd 2. Cons - Honey 3. Pens - Honey 3.