Redruth 15 London Scottish 21

Promotion chasers London Scottish withstood a final fifteen minute onslaught by Redruth to keep their title hopes alive.

The Reds, playing up the slope with a strong wind, were first off the mark when a fine break down the right hand side by Sean Hawkey set up the forwards who recycled the ball for Paul Thirlby to touch down. The visitors soon showed their quality as the back row forwards started to stamp their authority on proceedings with scrum half Simon Amor organising and full back John Bordess making penetrating runs.

The sustained pressure from the Scots was rewarded with a Lewis Calder try which James Brown converted. The visiting pack drove the home forwards some forty yards before being awarded a penalty for Redruth collapsing the maul. Electing to kick for the corner the influential Willie Lipp drove over from the ensuing lineout for the first of his afternoon’s brace, Brown making it a seven point score.

Redruth fought back at the end of the first period keeping the visitors under pressure. Unable to break down the well organised defence Aaron Penberthy opted for drop goal attempt which narrowly missed.

The Reds were on the back foot again at the opening of the second period, Lipp going over from the base of the scrum for his second try with Brown once again adding the extras.

As the game went into the final quarter Redruth raised their game forcing the visitors to defend for sustained periods. The home forwards went through the phases to set up wave after wave of attacks with Man of the Match Peter Joyce much in evidence. Three yellow cards and a penalty try were conceded by the Scots as a result of the Redruth pressure.

Penberthy needed to show composure as he successfully slotted a penalty with the last kick of the game to secure a losing bonus point for the hosts.

Despite losing, morale was high in the Reds’ camp post match secure in the knowledge that this had been a fine team performance against high quality opposition. Director of Rugby, David Penberthy felt that the first half performance, with the elements, had been a little disappointing but he was full of praise for the manner that the team had fought back in the second period. “The team spirit is great and we will take a lot out this afternoon’s performance.”

Redruth now face three difficult weeks on the road to Rosslyn Park, Barking and Macclesfield before returning to The Rec for a key game against Otley next month.

Attendance: 775
Referee: Referee: Philip Davies (RFU)

Redruth
Tries: Thirlby 5; Penalty 69; Conversion: Penberthy 69; Penalty: Penberthy 80

London Scottish
Tries: Calder 22; Lipp 27, 44; Conversions: James Brown 22, 27, 44

Yellow Cards: Calder 64, Lipp 65, McGrath 79 (all London Scottish, all technical)

Redruth: P. Thirlby, S. Hawkey, S. Parsons, N. Pedley, M. Bowden, A. Penberthy, M. Richards (N. Simmons 69), D. Jacques R. Brown (M. Gidlow 57), P. Joyce, D. Cook, L. Collins, C. Fuca, S. Wood (O. Hambly 57), M. Bright (Capt.).
Replacements: (not used) J. Wright, S. Kenward.

London Scottish: J. Bordiss, T. Holgate, B. MacDougall, G. Trueman (Capt.), D. Howells, J. Brown, S. Amor (O. Walbyoff 63), A. Clarke (M. Johnson 57), T. Standfield (C. McGrath 57), A. Fahey, A. Newman, J. Brown, B. Lonnergen (M. Soden 75), L. Calder, W. Lipp.
Replacement: (not used) A. Karonias.