Sutton & Epsom 22, Redruth 41

The big red bandwagon keeps on rolling with a twelfth consecutive league win to keep Redruth very much in the mix for the promotion battle, writes Bill Hooper.

Redruth made a few changes ahead of the game, Cornwall Under 20 skipper Aaron Simmonds was given a start at full-back allowing Matt Shepherd a deserved week off, Jamie Prisk came in at No.8 and Suva Ma’asi started at hooker.

The Reds made another fast start scoring two tries in the opening ten minutes, the first by Ma’asi following a lineout and then from lock Todd Prisk who finished off a good move. Fraser Honey added a conversion for a 12-0 lead.

Full-back Sam Hurley pegged a try back for the home side bettered by centre Sam Bourton.

With the Sutton & Epsom scrum-half in the bin, Honey exploited space at close quarters to dart in from a five-metre scrum and add the extras to his own score.

Bourton trimmed Redruth’s lead with a penalty to leave the Reds 19-10 up at the break.

Ma’asi gave the Reds the best possible start to the second half bagging his second try and to notch up the bonus point, Honey once more on the money with the conversion.

Sutton & Epsom hit back with Hurley scoring his second try of the game following a good attack from the home side.

The see-saw nature of scoring continued as the Redruth forwards turned up the heat with prop Tommy Phillips the benefactor at the end of another catch-and-drive and with Honey’s conversion the game looked safe at 33-15.

Wing Jacob Bushell cut a fine line off his wing to score a third try for the home side to give them hope of snatching something from the game but Redruth were having none of it, Honey kicked a penalty and finally evergreen flanker Chris Fuca scored the Reds final try to wrap up the win.

After the final whistle Redruth’s Director of Rugby was happy with the win, saying: “Great to get the win after a long old day, when you climb on the bus at 6 am to get here a six-try win makes it all the sweeter. We played to our systems and to be fair we controlled the game throughout.”

Next Saturday Redruth will likely face a sterner test away to Leicester Lions in a re-arranged game.

Redruth: Simmonds, Vinnicombe, Simmons, Gilbert, Honey, Oulton; Phillips, Ma’asi, Tompsett, T Prisk, Pascoe, Stevens (Capt), Grubb, J Prisk. Reps: Brown, Williams, Fuca, Dawson, Taylor.

Redruth scores: Tries: Ma’asi 2, T Prisk, Honey, Phillips, Fuca; Cons: Honey 4; Pen: Honey.