The Reds secured their Level 4 status with an excellent performance at the Recreation ground. The first 40 was a harum-scarum affair with both sides trading tries to end up all square at the break and 4 tries apiece. The second 40 belonged to the home side they pinned the visitors back in their own half making good use of the wind and dominating affairs. The Reds scored 7 tries in total and ended the home season in style, hopefully inspiring the watching members of the mini-junior section who had paraded around the ground at half-time. The game was also notable for the superb place kicking of both Joe Cummins for the Reds and Sam Rogers for Chester who made light of the strong wind.

On a bright sunny day but with a very strong wind blowing from Hellfire Corner to the Scoreboard Corner it was the home side who kicked off playing towards Hellfire Corner. The home side were soon on the board, from a lineout in the 22 they went through the phases and Tom Cowan-Dickie finished off from short range for a converted try on 5 minutes. Chester hit straight back, a penalty went to about 10 metres and although the maul was stopped the Reds never got out of their 22 and Kyle Joseph finished off the attack wide out for Sam Rogers to convert superbly. Chester then went ahead; the Reds put the kick-off straight out and then the Reds dropped a high ball in the 22 to give the visitors a scrum 10 metres out. From the scrum their powerful centre Rhys Hamilton made ground off loaded to scrum-half Harry Craven who was over for a converted try on 12 minutes. Continuing the tit-for-tat Redruth immediately won a penalty and put the ball into Piggy Lane Corner. The Reds drove to midfield and Luke Barnes drove over, Cummins doing the rest to tie things up on 14 minutes. Now it was Chesters’s turn, from a lineout on the Reds 22 they moved the ball to the right chipped ahead, got the better of the bounce and were over wide out. Rogers again making light of the wind to put the visitors 7 points up. You guessed it the Reds would score next. The Reds had started competing at the lineout and the visitors struggled to secure any possession from this source and also the Reds scrum started to get on top and became a source of penalties. A lineout 10 metres out saw the Reds peel off the back and after a few strong drives Chris Rovery was over for the first of his hat-trick of tries. The Reds had the best of the next 10 minutes of so and a strong run by Rovery drew a penalty. The Reds went to 10 metres and after a powerful Cowan-Dickie charge Rovery was on hand to go over in Hellfire Corner. Cummins some how managed to convert and the Reds were ahead again. Predicably the lead lasted a matter of moments, fielding the ball deep in their own half Chester ran back after some superb offloads Craven went over under the posts and the scores were tied at halftime.
Halftime: Redruth 28 – 28 Chester

If the Reds supporters were nervous at halftime they shouldn’t have been as the home side got completely on top in the second period. The scrum was dominate, the lineout was solid, the backs looked powerful and the kicking with the wind excellent. A regather from a kick ahead by Noah Clifford got the Reds moving forwards and they forced a penalty in the 22. The ball went to 5 metres and Rovery broke off the maul, shrugged off a number of would-be tacklers to go over for his third try wide out. By now predicably, Cummins made light of the difficult conversion. The Reds soon had some breathing space, a clever 50:22 from Sam James found touch 5 metres out and the Reds mauled over with ease for a Cowan-Dickie try. Cummins slotted from wide out and the Reds were 14 up on 47 minutes. The Reds were now in charge but missed out on a 5-metre maul try when they were stopped just short. Chester could not get out of their half and after the scrum hit the deck on their 10-metre line Cummins judged the wind perfectly to stretch the Reds lead to 17 points on 55 minutes. Further Reds pressure saw them held-up over the line. The lead was increased to 20 when Cummins popped over another penalty on 64 minutes. A tip tackle penalty on 70 minutes saw Cummins blot his copy book as he put the kick wide. From a Redruth scrum on the 22 the Reds moved to the left and Chester made the mistake of trying to tackle Clifford high and were brushed aside as the powerful winger went through a number of tackles to go over. Cummins was back on song with the difficult conversion and the Reds victory was complete. This proved the last score of the game.

The Tribute man-of-the- match chosen by Rowe Group and SCB Groundworks was Chris Rovery.

Next Saturday the Reds travel to Hinckley for the first of their two consecutive trips to Leicestershire, that well know part of the West. Time for the RFU to get a new map me thinks! There will still be rugby at the Recreation Ground though as the 2nd XV will be at home for the next two weeks against Kingsbridge and then champions elect Wiveliscombe.

Redruth
Tries: Cowan-Dickie (2), Barnes, Rovery (3), Clifford.
Conv: Cummins (6).
Pen: Cummins (2).

Chester
Tries: Joseph, Craven (2), Beer.
Conv: Rogers (4).

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