Sedgley Park 34 Redruth 24

Report by Ed Bawden

Redruth blew a 10 point start as they slipped to a disappointing defeat against fellow relegation strugglers Sedgley Park.

The Reds got off to a great start. Aaron Penberthy contined his outstanding kicking form with a penalty from the left hand touchline as Sedgley stood up at a scrum in the 2nd minute.

A good run by Damien Cook from the half way line soon took play to the Park line. Cook was held up over the line but from the scrum that followed a strong Redruth scrum gave Mark Bright the space to touchdown near the posts with Penberthy kicking the conversion to see the Reds 10 points clear in as many minutes.

Brett Rule started at full back for the injured Jack Nowell and he announced his return with a couple of pile-driving tackles.

Playing up the slope, Sedgley Park were gaining in confidence but Steve Nutt was wide with a penalty in the 15th minute.

In midfield the powerful bursts of Richard Tafa were a constant challenge to the Reds and in the 25th minute he broke through the Cornish defensive line and chipped over Rule to score near the posts for Nutt to convert.

Most of the pressure was coming from the home side and after a wave of attacks prop Darren Birchall went over in the right hand corner for an unconverted try 3 minutes before the interval.

In the opening 20 minutes of the second period Redruth were unable to get out of their own half despite having a strong breeze behind them.

England counties player Matt Riley broke through the Reds defence to touchdown near the posts after 55 minutes, Nutt adding the extras.

This was a typical battle between two struggling teams and Redruth were not looking like scoring. A 35 meter penalty after 70 minutes by Nutt following an offside offence strengthened Park’s position.

From the restart a good run by Gareth Dew ended with Park skipper Chris Wilkinson going over for a try that Nutt converted.

Replacements Chris Fuca, Steve Kenward and Tom Duncan were making a difference as Redruth came to life with a series of determined attacks. The powerful Duncan forced his way over for great tries in the 77th and 80th minutes both of which Penberthy converted to pull the Reds into losing bonus point territory.

In Injury time the Cornishmen rightly went for the win with the home side rocking but when a Redruth move broke down Nutt was able to race over in the right hand corner to clinch the game and deny the Reds any league points.

Referee: Darren Gamage (RFU)