Bournville 25 v 29 Redruth

A hat rick try for replacement Matthew Pritchard in the final play of the game capped off a remarkable comeback from the Reds who were 22 points behind early in the second half to bring home a bonus point win from the west midlands.
There is a feeling this young Redruth side is growing and developing under the coaching of Richie Kevern and Richard Brown, while there is much work to do there were big plusses for the character and resilliance displayed in this performance as the reds shrugged off injuries and some bad luck to stay in the fight and take the chance to win in stoppage time.

The Avery Fields three miles north west of Birmingham city centre is a 3g pitch and on a cold dry day it was a “Fast track” well suited to open rugby.
After leaving the Recreation ground at 8am, the Reds kicked off into a stiff cold breeze however they were behind after only two minutes when the home sides top scorer Jacob Fewtrell kicked a penalty from 25 meters.
A unconverted catch and drive try after 13 minutes increased the home sides lead.
Redruth started to find their feet and had a good spell of pressure but could not breakdown what looked a strong home defence. Midway through the half a penalty from in front of the posts by Rhys Brownfield got Redruth on the scoreboard.
Following a turnover an astute crosskick on halfway by the hosts saw winger Alex Evans go over for an unconverted try wide out on the right.
On the half hour Redruth suffered a triple blow Sam Stevens and Ben Fox clashed heads and had to go off while Harry Hocking who was having a cracking game went to hospital with an arm injury. Stevens was able to Return to the fray with his head heavily bandaged but Fox was forced to sit out the rest of the game with bandages over a nasty cut.
Some good play from the home side saw winger Nathan Decalmer go over for an unconverted try in the left hand corner after 34 minutes leaving the reds perhaps on the balance of play a little unlucky to go in as many as 15 points down at the break.

In a disappointing start to the second half Decalmer brushed off a tackle to go over for the bonus point try that Fewtrell converted to stretch the lead to a commanding 22 points.
Redruth responded with a catch and drive unconverted try in the left corner by Pritchard.
For the next quarter of an hour Redruth were “Under the pump” hardly able to get out of there own 22, when they had a chance they missed touch and Bouurnville’s forwards continues to pound the reds line and it took a number of brave tackles to stop the hosts adding to their score and the reds chances of going home with anything looked pretty slim at this stage.

An interception by Dean Bonds on 59 minutes changed the game, the winger had enough gas to get get to the line after a 70 meter run and the conversion brought the gap back to ten points as the game went into the final quarter.

Making his debut for the reds Pat Walton one of four members of Kevern’s Cornwall under 20 side to win the national championship in 2022 in the reds line up made an impressive debut both in the line out and running in broken play. Originally from Penryn, Walton has joined the reds on loan from Plymouth Albion to cover an opening now that Jack Wickham has gone off to play in Australia.

Maybe the pace of the game as telling on the home sides big forwards, Pritchard got his second try after 67 minutes that saw home second row Ben Meakin yellow carded.
With the difference down to three points the home sides supporters could sense the game slipping away, the tension between the sides mounted after Meakin seemed to return to the pitch after only seven minutes in an apparent misunderstanding between the officials.
Conceding penalties trying to stop the reds drives Bournville left the front door wide open for the reds to take the game. Three successive penalties enabled Redruth to get into the left hand corner with the game deep into stoppage time. Following multiple phases of play in front of the posts on the hosts line the tension was now sky high, if the ball had come back there looked to be enough space for Sam James to go over but the old adage of “Fourteen men working hard to get the fifteenth over” certainly applied as Pritchard who showed great composure when the chance came to touchdown in a mass of bodies and put the reds ahead for the first time.
The conversion, a Jack King drop goal, was a formality and the immediate whistle for “No side” was the cue for a lively bus trip back to the Duchy.

Bournville
Tries: Fanning, Evans, Decalmer (2)
Conv: Fewtrell
Pen: Fewtrell

Redruth
Tries: Bonds, Pritchard (3)
Conv: Beckerleg (2), King
Pen: Brownfield

Referee: Dan Parrott
Assistant Referees: Adam Hughes & Tim Dyer.