Barnstaple pulled off a stunning victory in the last play of the game in a bruising match between two evenly matched sides. When the Reds had a lineout on the visitors 10 metre line with only 8 minutes to go and leading by 9 points the game seemed over. But the lineout went astray, Barum stormed downfield and set up camp in the Reds 22. The Reds seemed to be standing firm but a yellow card to Sam Stevens gave the visitors the edge and they were able to cross the line. The restart went deep and we were in the last play of the game. The victors chanced their arm and the passes stuck. They worked their way down the field in a multi-phase move, and taking full advantage of their extra man, eventually crossed in Piggy Lane Corner. Full credit must be given to the visitors for their comeback but the Reds will feel that they had the game won and should have better managed the final few minutes.

On a lovely sunny and calm day with the pitch taking a stud after the heavy rain in the last seven days it looked a good day for rugby and both sides certainly dished up a fine feast for the large crowd.
The Reds kicked off playing towards Hellfire Corner. The Reds suffered a blow early on when prop Luke Barnes had to leave the field with what seemed to be a head injury that was to end his game. After the initial skirmishes the Reds got on the scoreboard. A lineout maul on the 22 made ground, a breakaway almost made the line but Sam Stevens was on hand to finish things off, Dean Wills slotting the difficult conversion. The lead didn’t last long; a couple of penalties got Barum into the Reds 22. A 5-metre maul was repulsed but from a ruck in front of the posts Albert Stretch saw a gap and darted over for a converted try. Incidentally this was to be Barums only successful conversion of the day. The Reds dominated the next 20 minutes with nearly all of the play taking part in the visitor’s half. The visitor’s defence was strong and the Reds also paid the price for some inaccuracy with passing and at the lineout. Finally, though the home side were able to score. After a lineout in the 22 the Reds got close through a Sam James run and Sam Bray used some niffy footwork to scamper over from a ruck near the line. Crucially, as it turned out, the conversion was charged down and the Reds were 5 points, not 7 points, to the good after 32 minutes. A long kick-off forced the Reds into a goal line drop out and the Reds were on the defensive. A couple of penalties in the 22 led to a yellow-card for Jamie Prisk and Barum took immediate advantage to maul over from a 5-metre lineout to level the scores. The Reds though hit back despite their numerical disadvantage. Running back a clearance, they played some great rugby to get into the 22 but got turned over at a ruck. Barum though tried to run out of defence and Jess Tompsett executed a turnover at the ruck and got close to the line. Sam James was on hand to finish things off and the Reds were 7 points clear at the break.
Half-Time: Redruth 19 – 12 Barnstaple

On the restart the visitors initially dominated possession and field position but the Reds defence was strong and they struggled to seriously threaten the Redruth line. The backrows and centres of both sides were charging into the line and the tackling from both sides was strong, this was indeed a bruising encounter. A penalty on halfway allowed the Reds to get on the attack. A 5-metre lineout was secured but an obstruction allowed the visitors to clear. A few minutes later the Reds seemed to have worked an overlap in the 22 but a poor pass ended the move. Back came Barum and they played some great rugby to get into the 22. Waves of attacks followed and Sellick went over for a good try to make it a 2 point game on 64 minutes. It was the Reds turn to strike back but again a knock-on in the 22 ended a promising attack. Nevertheless, a superb 50:22 kick by Wills got the Reds back on the front foot. A peel move from the lineout got close and the dancing feet of Ethan Morgan sent him over for a try. A scuffle after the score saw Dan Rutter for the Reds and Jake Childs for Barum shown yellow cards. This crucially would create space on the field that the Reds didn’t want in the final phase of the game. Wills slotted the difficult conversion and the Reds were 9 points clear and almost home and hosed. As reported above the match did not end the way the Reds planned and the visitors were a happy bunch at the final whistle. The Reds will look to their game management at the end and the fact that 3 of the Barum tries came when they were a man down due to yellow cards.

The Redruth Tribute man-of-the-match chosen by Carlberg Britvic was scrum half Sam Bray.

Redruth
Tries: Stevens, Bray, James, Morgan.
Conv: Wills (2), Morgan.
Yellow Cards: Prisk, Rutter, Stevens.

Barnstaple
Tries: Stretch (2), Sellick, Darley, Lee.
Conv: Sellick.
Yellow Card: Childs.

Referee: Lloyd Davies.
Assistant Referees: Peter Dixon & Ian Pengelly.