Cambridge 52 Redruth 5

Match report by Ed Bawden

Cambridge gave Redruth a lesson in running rugby as they touched down 8 tries to inflict the Reds’ biggest defeat for 5 years.

Cambridge played a fast attractive game but Redruth were competitive for the first 25 minutes until Owen Hambly was sin binned for killing the ball near the line.

In a devastating 10 minute spell Cambridge made the man advantage tell as they ran in three converted tries and the game was over as a contest.

Redruth had the better of the scrummaging, Steve Wood worked tremendously hard while Matt Bowden back in the side after injury had a decent game.

In good conditions Redruth opened well: Brett Rule was just wide with a penalty into the wind in the 4th minute. Rule wore the number 10 shirt after Aaron Penberthy was called up to play for the South West under 20’s.

In the centre for the hosts Phil Ellis was a powerhouse and his running tormented the Reds all afternoon and he ran in the first two tries both of which former Ivybridge College fly half Dan Mugford converted.

From the restart a Redruth mistake allowed Billy Robinson to run in a try which Ben Spencer converted, Cambridge had the bonus point in the bag just before the interval when Will Martin ran in a good try that Spencer converted to leave the Reds 28 points behind at half time.

In the 3rd quarter the Cornishmen were very competitive and Hambly looked to be over for a try following good play by Mark Bright but the final pass was forward.

Robinson got his second try from more scintillating Cambridge play in the 59th minute.

Falmouth University student Chris Bailey – originally from Hereford – came on in the Reds’ second row and made a good impression on his debut.

Martin got a second try after 69 minutes and skipper Darren Fox went over to loud cheers from a big crowd for a try that Martin converted. Robinson completed his hattrick just before the end Martin adding two conversions.

The Reds best bit of play in injury time following a solid scrum saw Rule put Bowden away on the half way line with a subtle dummy. The Reds’ full back raced over to touchdown in the right hand corner for an unconverted try.

Cambridge
Tries: Robinson 3, Ellis 2, Martin 2, Fox
Con; Mugford 2, Spencer 2, Martin 2
B Robinson; W Martin,G White, M Ayrton (Tep J DuToit 18 Mins Rep T Wheatcroft 65 Min); D Mugford, B Spener (Rep D Hunter 46 Min); R Reeves ), S Pearl, B Cooper, (Rep A Kelsall 65 Min), I Ashcroft-Leigh, G McComb, B Hunter, M Edison, D Fox (Capt)

Redruth
Try; Bowden
Yellow Card Hambly
M Bowden;S Hawkey, S Parsons, N Pedley (Rep S Kenward h-t), T Notman; B Rule, N Simmons; D Jacques, M Gidlow (Rep R Brown 46 Min), A Morcom (rep L Fairbrother 18 Min), L Collins, C Fuca (Rep C Bailey 54 Min), S Wood (Rep T Duncan 60 Min), O Hambly, M Bright (Capt)

Ref Nick Cockburn (RFU)