Wharfedale 22 Redruth 33

Report by Ed Bawden

Redruth put in their best performance of the season to win by 5 tries to 4 in the Yorkshire Dales in a thrilling game takes them out of the relegation zone.

The Reds must now wait on the outcome of next weeks game between Sedgley Park and Macclesfield which Park need to win to avoid relegation.

This was another tremendous team effort full of spirit spearheaded by skipper Mark Bright who touched down a hat trick of tries; there was also a tremendous performance from Owen Hambly who played in the centre for the last half hour after injuries to Sean Hawkey and Steve Kenward.

Wharfeside Avenue was in great condition on a warm sunny day and a bus load of supporters who travelled up from Cornwall cheered the Reds all the way to victory. Making his 250th appearance for the home side Andy Hodgson led the greens out onto the pitch.

Redruth chose to play into a strong wind and were under immense pressure in the opening 4 minutes with Talite Vaioletti twice going close before hooker Steve Graham went over for a try that Tom Davidson converted with a good kick.

It took Redruth a while to settle with Sam Parsons who was having his best game of the season going close to a try chasing down a kick ahead.

The Reds first score appeared to have a stroke of luck as Tom Notman chipped ahead and won the race for the ball to claim the Reds first try after 24 minutes that Aaron Penberthy converted.

Into the wind Redruth were playing some tremendous rugby: Darren Jacques, Peter Joyce and Damien Cook all working hard and a good run by Matt Bowden led to a try for Bright after 28 minutes that Penberthy converted.

Davidson was wide with two penalties as the Cornish side took a 7 point lead into the break. Redruth lost Chris Fuca with injury but had a top replacement in Steve Wood.

When play resumed Wharfedale playing through their forwards where Vaioletti, David Hughes and Rob Baldwin were in great form, making constant inroads into the Redruth defence as Tom McGee pulled back an unconverted try after 45 minutes.

After replacing Sean Hawkey, Steve Kenward clashed heads with Brett Rule making a vital tackle and needed 12 stitches to a nasty head wound.

Luke Collins stole a Wharfedale line out near the line to set up the position for Bright’s 2nd try after 58 minutes that Penberthy did well to convert from wide out on the left.

In an irrepressible 10 minute spell of play through their forwards Wharfdale hit back with unconverted tries by Hughes and Vaioleti to take the lead 22-21 with 12 minutes to go.

Wharfedale brought on four pairs of fresh legs to protect the lead but the Cornishmen raised their game in the final 10 minutes taking charge of the game in the forwards with Penberthy using the wind kicking for position. Bright powered over for a try in the 71st minute to put the reds back in front.

Bright then peeled off the back of a 5 metre scrum to set up a try for Steve Wood with 5 minutes to go that secured the result, England Counties under 20 player Penberthy adding the extras.

The final whistle saw Redruth fans race on to the pitch to celebrate with the players, skipper Bright described the win as the best away victory in his five seasons with the Reds. Despite their tremendous efforts since the Launceston game just before Christmas Redruth now they have to wait for the outcome of next weeks game at Sedgley Park to know where they will be playing next season.

WHARFEDALE
Tries: Graham, McGee, Hughes, Vaioleti
Con; Davidson

D Hart; N Taylor, A Hodgson, T Davidson, S Horsfall; L Gray (Rep T Barrett 69 Min), A Black; T McGee (Rep N Dickinson 57 min), S Graham (Rep B Sowery 69 Min), C Steel, T Vaioleti (Rep R Brown 69 Min), A Allen (Rep R Rhodes 69 Min), D Hughes, D Solomi, R Baldwin (Capt)

REDRUTH
Tries: Bright 3, Notman, Wood
Con: Penberthy 4

B Rule; T Notman, S Hawkey (Rep S Kenward 46 min Rep T Duncan 54 Min), S Parsons, M Bowden; A Penberthy, N Simmons; D Jacques, R Brown (Rep M Gidlow 65 Min), P Joyce, L Collins, D Cook, C Fuca (Rep S Wood 32 Min), O Hambly, M Bright (Capt)
Rep not used A Morcom

Ref Steve Lee (RFU)