With storm Amy blowing up nicely and the occasional heavy shower to contend with this did not look like it would be the best day for rugby, but both sides had other ideas and put on a great show for the crowd. The Recreation Ground had a somewhat strange look on the day with nobody watching from the East bank due to the ongoing works to install floodlights. The match was a tight affair on the scoreboard until the Reds hit a purple patch late in the match to run in 3 tries with the visitors being reduced to 14 men due to a yellow card. Although the Reds had generally had the better of field position this was a very competitive match. As ever in a Reds v Old Reds encounter the OR’s were keen to move the ball from almost anywhere meaning the Reds could never relax in defence.

Old Reds won the toss and elected to defend Hellfire Corner and give the Reds the slight advantage of the wind, although it was primarily cross-field. The Reds got things underway and immediately the Old Reds showed that they were prepared to run from anywhere showcasing some slick passing and support lines but it was to the be the Reds who would score first. Jack Counter fielded a long OR’s kick out of defence and ran the ball back deep into the visitor’s half, Noah Clifford punched a huge hole in the defence and took play to within 10 metres. The Reds hammered away at the line for many phases and then quickly moved the ball to the right, Ethan Morgan put a grubber into the in goal area and Jack Simmons finished things off for the first try of the game. Dean Wills converted to put the Reds 7 points clear on 10 minutes. The Reds probably should have added to their score soon after when a lineout was driven to 5 metres and a penalty gave them a 5-metre lineout but they were unable to secure the ball. A monster Reds scrum on halfway again gave them a lineout in the 22 but the move ended with a knock-on. OR’s now had a long period of possession running the ball left and right and gradually working their way downfield and earned a 5-metre lineout but the Reds stole the lineout. The OR’s were having a good spell and only a great turnover by Clifford stopped another OR’s attack in the 22. The Reds now attacked from a lineout on the visitors 10 metre and were moving the ball well between forwards and backs, the move ended when Clifford was adjudged to be held-up in goal under the shadow of the posts. There now followed a period of helter-skelter rugby with both sides running the ball, after some 3 minutes of play the Reds looked to have worked an overlap but this was spotted by winger Finn Murphy who intercepted and ran in from 40 metres for a converted try on 31 minutes. The Reds had a chance to regain the lead when OR’s knocked on in their own 22 to gift the Reds a scrum but they were unable to press home the advantage and the half ended with honours even. The OR’s would have been happier of the two sides at half-time with the scores even and having the use to the slope and the better of the wind in the second period.
Halftime: Redruth 7 – 7 Old Redcliffians

The Reds started the half very brightly moving the ball well but soon lost hooker Tom Cowan-Dickie who left after getting a shoulder in the ribs. From this point on the totally dominant Reds scrum became less effective and no longer a source of penalties. After a period of midfield play the Reds spent some time in the visitors 22 but were met with a stern defence. After 54 minutes the second half deadlock finally ended, the Reds ran back a long clearance kick and after many phases forced a penalty which went to 10 metres from the line. The powerful maul never looked like being stopped and Sam Stevens was over for an unconverted try. A long spell of midfield play ended when Counter broke free down the left wing and took play deep into the OR’s 22 and the move was only ended by a high tackle which sent Jalen Curry to the sin-bin on 65 minutes. The next 10 minutes would see the Reds run away with the match. First up a 5-metre maul got close and Jarrod Hambly broke away to go over for an unconverted try to put the Reds 10 points clear. A 50:22 for the Old Reds seemed to have stemmed the flow of the Reds but once more the home side won the lineout to clear up field. From a Redruth scrum around their own 10 metre line the home side went on the attack, a Morgan half-break got them on the front foot and the Old Reds defence never recovered. A succession of quick plays ended with Barnaby Elderkin going over under the posts for a converted try to make the game safe for the Reds. A few minutes later the Old Reds dropped a pass on their own 10 metre, Elderkin pounced and set off towards the posts, one pass to Connor Triggs and the backrower was able to cap a fine game with a try. This proved to be the last score of the game.
A word for referee Peter Buchanan who had a fine game and let the play flow whenever possible.

Next Saturday the Reds are back on the road with the short trip to Topsham to take on Exeter University.

Redruth Tribute man of the match chosen by Francis ClarkwasConor Triggs.

Redruth
Tries: Simmons, Stevens, Hambly, Elderkin, Triggs.
Conv: Wills (2).

Old Redcliffians
Try: Murphy.
Conv: Groves.
Yellow Card: Curry.

Referee: Peter Buchanan.
Assistant Referees: Rob Lowe & Steffan Anderson-Thomas.