Match Preview

This Saturday Redruth venture out of the county for the first time as they make the relatively short trip to Bristol to take on Clifton RFC.

Its early days but our hosts will have been delighted with their start to the season. After 3 games they are unbeaten and sit in 3rd place on 13 points and some how after Saturday they will have managed to play their first 4 games all within the city limits of Bristol. This run will end with a bang on the 30th though when they travel to Cheshire to take on Chester.
Clifton's victories have come at home against Newport (Salop) 19-10, Camborne 39-31 and away to local rivals Dings Crusaders by 15-16.
Clifton's top try scorer is Albert Stretch (hooker) on 4 and Luke Cozens is again the man with the boot on 19.

Last season this fixture was a very unusual affair. Redruth arriving on a calm sunny day were stunned to hear that the match may have to be moved to the 4G at Dings as the ground was waterlogged. From pitch side it looked perfect but viewed from the stand it looked more like a lake that was only missing ducks and geese although there were a couple of old guys fishing in the dead ball area! After some frantic work it was declared 'playable' with both sides keen not to play on the 4G! Despite the conditions and due to in no small part to some sympathetic and sensible refereeing from Max Weston the game was completed with Clifton just coming out on top against a very young an inexperienced Redruth side by 18-10. There are some fantastic pictures on the website of the players splashing around especially the ones of Luke Barnes swimming in for a try! A game all will remember and one where the phrase that 'rugby was the winner' definitely applied.

Redruth will be hoping to get back to winning ways on a ground that has produced some memorable matches over the last 3 years. Previous to the water-polo match mentioned above Redruth managed to win both of the previous two encounters on both occasions with virtually the last play of the game to the delight of the travelling support. Both times the winning try being scored in the exact same place!
Last week the Reds had a second half to forget, only trailing by 6 points at the break they were put to the sword by an excellent Luctonians side and went down by 18-45. This leaves the Reds in 8th place on 7 points.
The Reds leading try scorers are Sam (rolling maul) James and Tommy Phillips both on 2 and Nat Dart has the most points with 15.

Referee: Tom Evans-Jones

Look out for teams news on Friday.
Follow the match on Radio Cornwall if not travelling and why not catch the 2nd team at home as they play Helston @ 3pm.