In perfect conditions for rugby the Reds came out on top over an exciting Exeter University side by 7 tries to 5. Although the Reds were good value for the win they could never go into cruise control against the lively students and it was only a try inside the last 10 mins that made the game safe.

Exeter kicked off playing towards Hellfire Corner and were on the scoreboard almost immediately. A penalty was put into the famous corner and a lineout maul went over for a try by Young that went unconverted. Redruth quickly hit back when they scored a carbon copy try 5 mins later through Matt Pritchard which was superbly converted by Dean Wills from wide out. Exeter were soon back in front when after a series of attacks in the Reds half they were awarded a penalty centrally on the 22 which Walker put over. The Reds now gifted the student’s field position by putting clearance kick straight out. A penalty followed which was put into Piggy Lane corner, the maul was repulsed but an inch perfect cross-kick found right winger Burton who dotted down on landing for an undefendable try. The Exeter team received a warm round of applause from the whole crowd for this superb try which went unconverted putting the students 6 points to the good on 16 mins. The topsy-turvy nature of the match continued and the Reds were soon back in front. The visitors had a clearance kick charged down to give the Reds field position and a penalty found touch 15 yards out. The maul made some ground and then Sam James charged forward, quick ball found Ed Pascoe who found Jamie Prisk who went over under the posts for a seven pointer. The Reds had another chance with a 5 metre line-out but the backs gave away a soft penalty by being less that 10 metres back from the line-out. Exeter made the home side pay, a penalty went into the Reds 22 and then Tommy Phillips saw yellow for a technical offence. The extra man told immediately through another unconverted Exeter try. Soon though Exeter lost a man of their own, hooker Young getting 10 mins for crime of committing two high tackles in the space of about 20 secs! The penalty was again put into the visitors 22 and the same duo of players combined again, James who had made good yards fed Pascoe who in turn slipped the ball to Jack King to go under the posts for the Reds third try. It was on 33 mins that the game saw its first scrum such was the high levels of handling being displayed. The visitors had another phase of attacks in the Redruth 22 but the Reds held firm to go in at the break ahead.
Half-Time: Redruth 21 – 18 Exeter University

The Reds started the 2nd period with a bang, they were all over the student’s line and it was no surprise when a penalty try was awarded with Erskine seeing yellow for his efforts. The crowd sensed a chance to put this game to bed early and a long Wills clearance forced the Uni side back to their own 22. The students however had not read the script and launched a daring long range attack that took play deep into the Reds 22. A penalty was put in the corner and although the maul was stopped multiple pick-an-goes later Stockton went over for the try converted by Walker. Some 5 mins later the Reds restored their point cushion. A break by King came to nothing due to a bad pass but minutes later Jack Simmons made good ground into the 22, quick ball found Connor Triggs who went over in Piggy Lane corner for an unconverted try. 33 – 25 to the Reds on 55 mins. Both teams were still playing good rugby but it looked certain that Exeter were going to add to their tally until a fantastic tap tackle by Jacob Chapple saved the day. Not much later though a clever grubber kick was pounced upon by Burton to make it a 3 point game. From the kick-off though Exeter knocked-on, the Reds destroyed the visitors scrum for a penalty which went into Piggy Lane corner and the lineout maul did the rest, Pritchard getting the try with 12 mins left on the clock. Exeter had to score twice but the Reds had them pinned in their own 22. Good defence earned the students a penalty, which needing to score twice, they ran, it looked threatening but a poor pass went to ground and Bobby Wigginton scooped the ball up and went over under the posts to make the game safe. The Reds easily saw out the remainder of the match to record the win.

Next Saturday the Reds travel to Bristol to take on the Old Redcliffians who have started the season well. There will still be rugby at the Recreation Ground as the second team take on Bideford, please come long and support the 2’s in their first home game after gaining promotion.