A crucial game in store for Redruth 1st XV this coming Saturday with the arrival of Chester for what will be our last home league game of the season. Our visitors are just one place and two points below us in the table and with two tough away games to finish the season, the Reds need to be looking for maximum points.

Chester will not be here just to make up the numbers. They are just one place above the relegation play-offs and they face a trip to Camborne for their final game of the season. Their performance away at Hinckley on their last outing shows they will be tough opponents.

Chester have been royally mucked around by the RFU. Level transferred to National Two West they managed to get back into National Two North last season only to find themselves back in the West for the current campaign.

In National Two West Syston have already been relegated, Exeter University are currently in the second relegation position and face matches against Hinckley(h) Hornets (a) and Taunton (h). Loughborough Students, currently in the relegation play-off position, have to travel to Cinderford and Chester before hosting us on the last day of the season. However, as always, we will need to get the results and not rely on others failing to get theirs.

We certainly don’t want to get involved in a play-off system that looks as it was designed by someone after too many pints of strong cider. The fact that we have to wait until the middle of May to know who our opponents might be next season is daft in my opinion.

Travelling distance has always been a major issue for Redruth. Looking ahead to next season, Bournville are currently in pole position in Regional 1 Midlands with Newport (Salop) 6 points behind. while the top of Regional 1 South West seems to be between Devonport Services and Topsham. However both leagues see 2nd, 3rd and 4th clubs in play-offs to determine the second promoted side.

Kick off is earlier than usual at 2pm.

Referee: Lloyd Davies. Assistant Referees: Marius Botha  - Ian Pengelly. 

Team news here on Friday