After the free-flowing opening two matches with tries flying in left, right and centre this was a much more old school affair. Constant drizzle fell throughout making expansive rugby difficult and forward drives became much more the order of the day. Once again it was the power of the Redruth pack, especially at scrum time that was to prove decisive, time and time again they drove their opponents back winning a string of penalties. Barnstaple though stayed in the fight with determined organised defence coupled with a strong line out and maul. It wasn’t until Noah Clifford went over with less than 10 minutes to go that the game was made safe for the Reds.

Redruth kicked off playing towards Hellfire Corner and for the third match in a row made a fast start. They penned Barum into their own half and when the visitors cleared the home side countered. The clearing kick into the Reds half was run back with Jack Simmons breaking up to the 22 where a penalty was conceded. Joe Cummins made no mistake with the penalty and the Reds were 3 points up in as many minutes. The play continued with defences on top and neither side looked able to break the other down. Cummins doubled the Reds lead on 15 minutes with a superbly struck penalty from 40 metres. The Reds now started to get the better of things but Barum kept the home side at bay defending well. Eventually the Reds added their first try, a line out maul some 10 metres from Hellfire Corner was sacked but a few powerful pick-an-goes later Finn Wolstencroft went over for a try converted by Cummins. 13-0 to the Reds on 30 minutes. Any thoughts that the Reds would add to their lead to go into half-time comfortably ahead were soon banished. The final 10 minutes belonged to the visitors. A penalty was put into the 22 and the Reds were unable to clear as Barum pummelled the line. The Reds defended strongly but finally the dam broke with prop forward George Snell going over for a try converted by Cameron Grizzle-Johnson.
Half-time: Redruth 13 – 7 Barnstaple

With only 6 points separating the teams and the slope in favour of the visitors the game was in the balance. Barnstaple started the second period with a bang. A line-out maul in Hellfire Corner was going over the line when it was deliberately collapsed by Redruth and the referee had no hesitation in correctly awarding a penalty try. Tom Cowan-Dickie receiving a yellow card for his troubles. Barum were now a point to the good and the Reds down to 14 men for the next 10 minutes, advantage to the visitors. In general, the Reds managed the next 10 minute well, Barnstaple were only able to mount one serious attack which ended with them being held up over the line. Restored to 15 the Reds got back on top and almost added to their lead but a Cummins penalty attempt drifted just wide. With the scrum now totally dominant the Reds kept Barum in their own territory and following a line out near the line, Cowan-Dickie powered over with a little help from his friends to put the Reds back in front. Cummins converted and it was 20-14 to the Reds on 62 minutes. At this point Barum surprisingly took off left-wing Haydn Gosling who had performed excellently, fielding a succession of high balls and making good metres on the counter with his mazy running. The Reds stretched their lead to two scores soon after, with an attack getting bogged down in the Barum half Cummins struck a drop-goal from 40 metres to the joy of the home support packed into the Terry Pryor Stand. The Reds were now in no mood to let the game go and with the all dominate scrum proving great ball they attacked down the left wing and the move was only halted by a high tackle that saw Ryan Lee go to the bin. The Reds went to the corner and after the maul was sacked the ball was moved to the left and Noah Clifford was unstoppable from 5 metres out for a try right in the Tribute Lounge corner. The conversion went wide but the Reds were 14 points clear with only 8 minutes remaining. Barum though were not finished and got on the attack chasing a try that could have brought them a bonus point. From a 5-metre lineout their powerful maul got moving but the Reds had managed to go through the middle and when they drove over the line the ball was held-up. This proved to be their last opportunity and the visitors were soon down to 13 men when prop Andy Black was shown yellow after the Barum scrum was once again shunted backwards. The Reds went in search of the bonus point try but the visitors held them at bay for the remaining couple of minutes.

Congratulations for both sides for putting on such an entertaining encounter in the conditions. The clubs do battle once again in the first game of the New Year, a trip that a lot of Reds fans are looking forward to.

Next Saturday the Reds travel to Topsham to take on Exeter University, if you are planning to travel don’t forget to factor in the road works on the A30. If you are staying at home, please get down to the Recreation Ground as the 2nd XV finally get their league season underway with the visit of Devonport Services 2nds.