Redruth 17, Bournemouth 12

After the thrills of the victory at Clifton last week, this was a laboured win for Redruth in front of their supporters which left the home support feeling less than festive at the final whistle, writes Bill Hooper.

Fair-play to Bournemouth, who belied their lowly league position, to more than match the Reds for long periods.

Redruth began well enjoying good territory and possession but they couldn’t turn it into points.

The forwards battled hard with props Jack Hodge and Jess Tompsett to the fore, whilst both locks Edd Pascoe and Todd Prisk got through a lot of work in the rucks.

Have weathered the early pressure Bournemouth took the lead when the Reds were caught offside, skipper Grant Hancox kicking a penalty.

Redruth tied the scores when fly-half Fraser Honey kicked a mighty penalty from just inside the visitor’s half.

The influential Prisk ripped the ball in a maul to set up a blistering Redruth attack that saw wings Lewis Vinnicombe making good ground before Dean Bonds finished it off dotting down. Honey adding the extras.

Hancox kicked a second penalty just before the break and Redruth turned around 10-6 up.

Centre Jack Simmons made a good break into the Bournemouth twenty-two, but again the ball was turned over at a crucial moment.

Hancox trimmed the lead with his third penalty as the Redruth crowd fiddled anxiously.

However, nerves were soothed following good pressure down in Hellfire corner. A Bournemouth clearance kick was charged down by flanker Jake Clemson who followed up as the ball rolled in goal towards the dead ball line to just make the touchdown in the nick of time.

Honey kicked another excellent conversion to give the Reds some breathing space on the scoreboard.

A fourth penalty by Hancox near the end gave the visitors a losing bonus point.

Redruth Director of Rugby Nigel Hambly felt his side had made hard work of it, saying: “We got the win but that’s about all you can be happy about, we looked flat and made too

many errors. We will have to be much sharper next Saturday when we take on Taunton.”

The Taunton game at the Recreation Ground kicks-off at 2pm.

Redruth: Shepherd, Vinnicombe, Simmons, Janes, Bonds, Honey, Stacey; Hodge, Ma’asi, Tompsett, T Prisk, Pascoe, Clemson, Grubb, Fox (c). Reps: Brown, Phillips, J Prisk, Dawson, Taylor.

Redruth scores: Tries - Bonds, Clemson; Cons - Honey 2; Pen - Honey.