Leicester Lions 15, Redruth 31

Another superb Redruth performance on the road saw them to a bonus-point win in their re-arranged game at Leicester Lions, writes Bill Hooper.

The Reds are now well positioned in the promotion race with five games to go but with doubts if the current rugby season will be completed due to the coronavirus pandemic it may all be academic.

With the Lions attacking the Redruth line, wing Dean Bonds intercepted haring up the line towards the Leicester line, Bonds was held back by a Lions player who was shown a yellow card and Redruth awarded a penalty.

The Reds kicked to the corner and, following a series of pick and goes, lock Jamie Prisk crashed over for an unconverted try.

Soon after scrum-half Jack Oulton, eagle-eyed as ever, spotted a gap near the Leicester posts to snipe over for Fraser Honey to convert for a 12-0 lead.

The Redruth scrum was getting the upper hand and after the half-hour mark centre Jack Simmons found his way to the try-line with Honey’s conversion putting the Reds in a strong position at 19-0 up.

However, there was a little bit of a momentum swing either side of half time. First a powerful run from wing Devon Constant brought about an unconverted try to make it 5-19 at the turn.

The Lions roared out of the blocks at the beginning of the second half with Constant turning provider for his fly-half Harry Glynn, who also added the extras. Suddenly the game had taken on a different complexion.

Glynn further trimmed the Redruth lead with a penalty. Cool heads were required from the Reds, they stuck to their guns getting the vital next score thanks to skipper Ben Fox, Honey’s conversion giving Redruth some breathing space.

Redruth then put the icing on the cake with a fifth try scored by Bonds, who followed up a kick from full-back Matt Shepherd.

Redruth are due to play Westcliff at home on Saturday with a 2pm kick-off in their penultimate home game of the season.

Redruth: Shepherd, Taylor, Simmons, Gilbert, Bonds, Honey, Oulton; Tompsett, Brown, Williams, T Prisk, J Prisk, Fox (Capt), Grubb, Ryan. Reps: Phillips, Barnes, Hazelton, Stevens, Stacey.

Redruth scores: Tries: J Prisk, Oulton, Simmons, Fox, Bonds; Cons: Honey 3.