Redruth 17 Macclesfield 17

The Reds will rue missed opportunities in the first quarter when they should really have built a match winning lead but in the end had to dig deep to secure a draw and keep their survival hopes alive.

The home side made an impressive start to the game with Man of the Match, lock forward Damien Cook, rampant in the loose play. Forwards and backs combined well to create three clear cut try scoring chances but as a result of handling errors an Aaron Penberthy penalty was all they had to show for their efforts. Macclesfield had barely troubled the Reds’ defence when a penalty resulted in a simple lineout move which saw hooker Peter Allen touch down in the corner, Charles Winney’s conversion attempt drifting wide.

Just before the break Redruth regained the lead when Nick Simmons put Tom Notman away to race in under the posts from the halfway line for Penberthy to add the extras.

Whilst the players gather themselves for the second half, the crowd enjoyed triple the usual half-time entertainment as three Redruth Minis tag rugby sides took to the field to take on the visiting hordes from Tetbury rugby club.

Despite the home side having the advantage of the wind it was the powerful Macclesfield pack which dominated proceedings after the break. Sustained pressure led to an inevitable and simple try for Evan Stewart to level the scores. Four minutes later a clever kick was gathered by winger Matthew Simpson who combined with centres Tom Davenport and Jack Moorhouse who crossed for Winney to convert which gave the visitors a seven point lead.

The Reds came back strongly putting the ball through the phases and camping on the Macclesfield line. The Macclesfield replacement flanker, Chris Jones was sent to the sin bin before Tom Duncan was rewarded with a try, converted by Penberthy to level the scores with thirteen minutes to go.

Redruth fought hard to find the match winning score but the visitors’ defence held firm. With time running out Penberthy tried a long range drop goal which agonisingly drifted wide. It proved to be the last kick of the game leaving the spoils shared.

Reds’ Director of Rugby, David Penberthy was disappointed that the win had eluded his side but was full of praise for the character of the players.

We let three chances go begging early on and were too casual at the start of the second half. It’s not all over yet, this is a tight group who are good to be with. It’s all about performance now and doing ourselves justice. We shall fight on and build a foundation for next season whatever happens.

With just three games left the next challenge is a difficult trip to Coventry.

Attendance: 957

Referee: Referee: Philip Davies (RFU)

Redruth

Tries: Notman 37, Duncan 67; Conversions: Penberthy 37, 67; Penalty: Penberthy 16

Macclesfield

Tries: Allen 29, Stewart 54, Moorhouse 58; Conversion: Winney 58

Yellow Card: C. Jones (Macclesfield) 66 (Technical)

Redruth: B Rule, S Hawkey, S Parsons, N Pedley, T Notman, A Penberthy, N Simmons, D Jacques, M Gidlow (R Brown 55), A Morcom (L Fairbrother 55), D Cook, L Collins (T Duncan 62), C Fuca (O Hambly 57), S Wood, M Bright (Capt.).

Replacement (not used): M Bowden.

Macclesfield: R Winney, M O’Regan, J Moorhouse, T Davenport (B Coulbeck 68), M Simpson, T Eaton, C Mulchrone, T Mantell (B Latham 29), P Allen (S Moss 62), B Robinson, A Marsh, M Owens, R Wigham (C Jones 50), E Stewart (Capt.), J. Keep (R Parkinson 70).