Redruth 5 v 26 Dings Crusaders

Matchday Sponsor: Edmundson Electrical https://www.edmundson-electrical.co.uk/
Tribute Man-of-the-Match Sponsor: St.Austell Brewery https://staustellbrewery.co.uk/

Redruth can have no complaints on the day as Dings Crusaders were full value for their victory. Dings have a powerful pack that does the basics well in scrum and line-out and carry hard in the loose and in the backs they are well served by Murdoch Lock at scrum-half and Ciaran Donoghue at full-back who was very impressive on the day. The Reds have now played all of the teams in the league and Dings are clearly the best out there and have now put together an eight match winning run. For their part the Reds made the visitors fight all the way for the points with some determined defence and in the second period some good attacking play.

Redruth kicked off playing towards Hellfire Corner in dry conditions but with a 40-50 mph cross-wind to contend with, thankfully for those watching in the Terry Pryor Grandstand it was from the west! Dings had the better of the opening period and were winning the kicking battle in the tricky conditions, continually they gained ground with kicks. The game was being played in the Redruth half and from a line-out on the 22 the Dings maul made good ground and then when halted they spun the ball wide, the winger was tackled just short but scrum-half Lock was on had to dart through the gap for the first try converted by Donoghue on 16 mins. A few minutes later and Dings were again on the attack and Sam Stevens saw yellow for a high tackle on the Reds 22. Surprisingly the penalty was missed but Dings kept the pressure on. After a scrum penalty had got them again into the 22 Dings pummelled the Reds line, the Reds were defending well but using the man advantage Dings put the ball along the line for Hargan to squeeze in at the scoreboard corner. Donoghue put behind him the missed penalty to strike an amazing conversion from the touchline into the teeth of the wind to give Dings a 14 point advantage. Again Dings superior kicking got then a foothold in the Reds 22 and following a number of attacks centre Smith cut a good line and went over under the posts for a converted try on 34 mins. Redruth now had their best attack of the half, a Tommy Philips run got behind Dings for the first time and following a penalty they were able to pressure the Dings line. Unfortunately just as the defence looked to have been broken Redruth knocked on within sniffing distance of the try line. There was just time for Dings to mount another attack and it was only a foot in touch that prevented them getting the bonus point try before half-time.
Half-Time: Redruth 0 - 21 Dings Crusaders

With the slope in their favour Dings would have been expecting to pull away and increase their points difference but Redruth had other ideas and matched their opponents blow-for-blow in the second period. A penalty got the Reds into Dings territory and a superb break from Jack Simmons got the Reds behind the visitors defensive line, some excellent phase play ended with Captain Ben Fox going over from short range to get the Reds on the board with an unconverted try. The remainder of the second period was a to-and-fro affair with both sides getting into good positions but determined defence from both sides prevented numerous scores. Dings did manage to get their bonus point try when after a line-out maul was stopped short Lock was able to dart through a gap to go over for an unconverted try on 66 mins. Both teams had further opportunities but the defences of both sides were very determined and prevented any addition to the scoreboard,

Redruth will be buoyed by their second period performance and look forward now to the big Christmas Derby next Saturday against Camborne.

Before the match Dings Crusaders presented Redruth with a superb framed photograph of this fixture last year. It shows Ben Fox winning a line-out in front of a packed Terry Pryor Stand and captures Carn Brea perfectly in the background. This was a wonderful gesture from Dings and is a great example of the relationship that has built up between the two clubs over the years. If you win the league Dings we will miss you that is for sure.

Tribute man-of-the-match chosen by Edmundson Electrical was centre Jack Simmons.

Redruth
Try: Fox

Dings Crusaders
Try: Lock (2), Hargan, Smith
Conv: Donoghue (3)

Referee: Ben Wood.
Assistant Referees: Ian Pengilly & Adrian Holmes.