This won't go down as the Reds finest performance but they got the job done against a spirited Syston side who were let down by their ill discipline. After getting off to flying start the Reds never looked like losing but with the visitors running the ball well at times they could never relax completely. Redruth lost 3 key players to injury during the match and Reds supporters will be hoping that the injuries were not too severe and all 3 will be back on the field soon.

On a beautiful calm day Redruth kicked off playing toward Hellfire Corner with just the hint of a breeze in their faces. The home side immediately got on the front foot, a scrum penalty (the first of many) gave the Reds a 5-metre line out but the throw was not straight and the chance lost. The Reds however stayed in the visitor’s half and from a scrum on the 10 metre Sam James made a clean break and sprinted under the post. Dean Wills added the extras and the Reds were 7 points up in as many minutes. Syston now got their hands on the ball and showed their intent to run at the Reds, from a stolen lineout in their own half they made good ground and spread the ball to the left. Unfortunately for the visitors the move was a little laboured and Noah Clifford intercepted on half-way and went all the way for the Reds 2nd try converted by Wills. There now followed a period of play between the 22’s with neither team able to pressure the other, during this period the Reds lost to injury key prop forward Luke Barnes. A penalty for the Reds gave them a lineout in the 22, Syston withstood the pressure but at the expense of a penalty which went to 5 metres. The Reds worked a lineout peel and at the first phase James charged onto the ball and went over under the posts for a converted try. 21-0 up on 22 minutes Syston had a mountain to climb. From the restart the Reds put the ball straight out gifting Syston field position just outside the Reds 22. They now stayed in the Reds half for the next 15 minutes or so but a combination of good defence, the power of the Redruth scrum and their own mistakes prevented them from cutting the deficit. During this period the Reds were under a warning for high tackles and the visitors for scrum penalties. Jack Simmons also had to leave the field due to a nasty cut to his chinny, chin, chin. Towards the end of the half a high tackle penalty gave the Reds a lineout in the 22 but the maul was held up on the line. A further penalty a few minutes later and Syston were on a warning. The Reds peeled off the back of the lineout and almost made the line but a wild pass allowed the home side to prevent the bonus point try in the last move of the first period.
Half-Time: Redruth 21 – 0 Syston

Syston started the second period well and a wicked bounce from an up-and-under gave them a lineout in the Reds 22 with the Reds losing big second row Luke Hattam to injury in the same move. They kept the play in the Reds 22 and after a number of phases Owen Carroll went over for an unconverted try. 21-5 to the Reds on 48 minutes. The Reds restored their lead to 21 points quickly; attacking in the Syston half yet another Syston penalty led to a yellow card for Morgan Wayte-McPherson. The Reds opted to scrum and moving the ball left, neat passing, put Jack Counter in at the corner for the bonus point try that went unconverted. Things got worse for the visitors some 6 minutes later when their substitute Niall Hurley was shown a Red card for what appeared to be a combination of offences, first a tackle in the air on Wills followed by a stray boot to the head of Counter and then a wild swipe at Ed Pascoe. The Reds almost made them pay immediately but a Counter boot just clipped the line as he touched down in the corner. Despite their numerical disadvantage Syston now began to move the ball well and playing with freedom forced the Reds onto the back foot. The Reds withstood the pressure and a few minutes later a good run down the wing by Lewis Thomas was halted by a shoulder charge and Theo Mussell was shown the yellow card. This reduced Syston to 13 men for the last 10 minutes. The Reds had a couple of 5 metre lineouts but the Redruth maul was not functioning with its usual efficiency and they were unable to extend their lead. Finally in the last play of the game the Reds added another try; from a lineout in the 22 the Reds moved the ball but Syston intercepted and made it up to halfway. They moved the ball to the left but Clifford again picked off a loose pass, he kicked ahead and Thomas won the race to the ball and was under the posts. Wills converted with the last kick of the game.

The Redruth Tribute man-of-the-match chosen by Winners Recruitment was Sam James.

Next Saturday the Reds make the relatively short trip to Bristol to take on Old Redcliffians.

The following week the Reds will play their first ever National League match fully under floodlights when they play Exeter University on Friday 30th January with a 7.30pm kick-off.

Redruth
Tries: James (2), Clifford, Counter, Thomas.
Conv: Wills (4).

Syston
Try: Carroll
Red Card: Hurley
Yellow Cards: Wayte-MacPherson, Mussell.

Referee: James Walker.
Assistant Referees: Rob Lowe & Ian Pengelly.