Six first half tries for the Reds and nine in total tells the tale of this encounter. The visitors never got a foothold in the match and will quickly want to forget their visit to the Duchy. Bournville occasionally showed flashes of skill in the back line which the Reds will have to watch out for when they play the reverse encounter on the Choccos 4G pitch and to their credit they did score two excellent late tries.
The ground was painting a pretty picture today, bright sunshine, light winds and a pitch thick with bright green grass. Drought, what drought? A good-sized crowd was spread out around the pitch enjoying the good weather and in the modern trend it was considered so hot that the game was halted twice for hydration breaks!

Redruth got the season underway and were immediately on the attack as Bournville dropped the kick-off. A multi-phase attack ended when Joe Cummins put a chip into Hellfire Corner and a kind, or horrible bounce, depending on your viewpoint, saw Noah Clifford pounce for the first try after only 1 minute. In his only miss for the day Cummins put the conversion wide. After a couple of near misses when perhaps the Reds should have scored a snipping broken play run by Cummins, a smart off-load to Jack Counter and the Reds had their second. The Reds continued to press and Bournville were struggling to get any ball of quality, their lineout was always under pressure and the scrum was in constant retreat. After a short period, a Reds lineout maul in the 22 made good ground the ball was sent out to Sam James who smashed through the cover to go over near the posts. A couple of times Bournville were able to get set pieces in the Reds half but each time they either lost the lineout or conceded a scrum penalty to allow the Reds to clear. The bonus point try came on 31 minutes, Sam James again getting on the scoresheet. Try number 5 went again to Counter, a great move ended when Jack Simmons got in between defenders, found Counter with a smart of-load and the flying winger did the rest. Things got worse for the visitors when Clarkson McLeod was shown the yellow card due to Bournville conceding too many penalties. The Reds ended the half pushing the visiting pack over the line, Sam Bray getting the score.
Half-time: Redruth 40 – 0 Bournville

With the result now not in doubt Bournville had clearly made the decision at half-time to run the ball at every opportunity and in the second 40 they showed glimpses of the skill that brought them promotion. However, the Reds juggernaut was on a roll and could not be stopped. After some play in midfield further Bournville penalties saw a second yellow card, this time to the unlucky Sam Grimshaw. Bournville kept running the ball and were looking dangerous and took play into the Reds 22 but a long relieving kick pushed them back deep into their own half. A Redruth lineout on the 22 saw a back peel move work to perfection, Clifford making good ground before his off-load found Bray to score the Reds first try of the second half. 10 minutes later the Reds added a catch and drive, this time Jarrod Hambly touching down. The Reds had emptied their bench and all those that came on contributed well to the performance. The Choccos finally got the score their endeavour deserved, they stole a Reds lineout in their own half and spun the ball across the line and the move ended for a try in Piggy Lane Corner for Oscar van-Deventer. The Reds hit back with a beauty of their own, a lovely pass from Luke Johnson fed Counter and the left wing cut a mazy run to just short of the line. Quick ball found debutant Rob Baragwanath who was unstoppable from short distance. The match ended with the visitors scoring their second try in Piggy Lane Corner by Sam Collingwood after a further move from deep in their own half.

Redruth Tribute Man-of-the-Match: Sam James chosen appropriately by St.Austell Ales.

Next Saturday the Reds make the trip just over the border into Janner land when they take on Devonport Services. A big Redruth contingent is expected to cross the mighty Tamar to shout on the Reds.

Redruth
Tries: Clifford, Counter (2), James (2), Bray (2), Hambly, Baragwanath.
Conv: Cummins (8).

Bournville
Tries: Van-Deventer, Collingwood.

Referee: James Walker.
Assistant Referees: Rob Lowe & James Richardson.