After last season’s 35-34 home win and 35-34 away loss expectations of a thrilling encounter were well founded with the lead changing hands five times before The Reds ran out worthy winners.

The day couldn’t have started much worse with the team bus being stuck in the car park behind the supporters’ bus that couldn’t negotiate the scaffolding near the entrance. Heavy traffic on the A30 and M5 meant that they didn’t arrive until 2.30 p.m. leading to a fifteen minute delay to the scheduled 3.00 p.m. kick off.

Quickly forgetting the travel problems The Reds were straight out of the blocks, setting up good field position from the kick off to be awarded a penalty in front of the posts for Paul Thirlby to put the visitors three points up with two minutes on the clock. Both sets of backs showed an early desire to run the ball with the pace of Redruth’s left wing, Frazer Kellythorne, soon catching the eye.

Despite their forward dominance Redruth found themselves frequently on the wrong side of referee Keith Lewis at the breakdown. The Reds conceded six breakdown penalties in the first half alone which made it difficult to establish their superiority.

The supporters bus finally arrived just in time to see quick thinking by Titans’ live-wire scrum-half Mike Pope take a quick tap in mid-field to scamper over for a try converted by Tony Yapp to give the hosts a fourteenth minute lead.

The Reds came back strongly with Frazer Kellythorne going over in the corner only for Mr Lewis to deem that the ball had been held up. A well worked backs move culminated in a clever flip of the ball by another exciting newcomer, Romey Vassell, to put Craig Bonds over in the opposite corner. Thirlby added the extras to put the Reds back in front.

The lead was short lived as Taunton back rower Dean Menzies-Taylor drove over from short range to touch down for an unconverted try giving the hosts a two point advantage at the break.

After the break the dominant Reds’ pack soon set up the opportunity for last season’s top try scorer Tom Duncan to cross for one of his trade mark scores from the base of the scrum putting the visitors back in front. A long range penalty by Titans centre Brett Turner made it all square with some twenty minutes left on the clock.

For the final quarter Redruth took control. The forwards were on top with Rob Heath in the second row performing well in his first game at this level. Tom Duncan crossed again to complete his brace with Paul Thirlby converting and then adding another penalty. The final ten minutes saw The Reds efficiently close the game down to hold on for a creditable victory.

A happy Reds’ skipper, Chris Fuca, was especially delighted with the performance of the debutants but admitted he had felt very nervous about his first league game as captain. “It’s nice to get the first one out of the way,” he quipped. “Now I’m really looking forward to next week!”

Under the new coaching regime of Adrian “Spade” Edwards, Ashley Morcom and Steve Evans, seven of the Reds’ squad made their league debut. Four of the new comers plied their trade at Level 8 last season whilst Redruth Colt Jake Rayment was one of the youngest players ever to appear in a league game for The Reds. They stepped up to National Two rugby admirably.

Spade felt that the difficult journey hadn’t really had that much influence on events. “We knew they would come at us hard and we weathered their attack in the first half. Effort and team spirit is the key for us. I’m pleased with an away win, our pack was dominant and the youngsters did well. We created chances but it’s early days and there’s still plenty of work to do.”

Saturday sees Redruth host the Cornish All Blacks for the “Inferno In Kernow” in what is sure to be a full blooded encounter in which the opening day’s results will count for nothing. With Luke Collins, Lewis Vinnicombe, Nick Simmons and Chris Bailey among those likely to be available Spade and his team are going to have some interesting selection decisions to make!

Attendance: 410

Referee: Keith Lewis (RFU)

Taunton: Freddie Gabitass (Jack Conway 66), Jack Claydon, Luke Plummer, Brett Turner, Kyle Giblett, Tony Yapp, Mike Pope, Dan Morgan, Glen Cooper (Robbie Beddard 71), Sunny Haines (Richard Sinel 62), Ross Ward, Ben King, Brett Harvey (Capt.) (Jake Childs 69), Dean Taylor-Menzies (Ted Lee 69), Greg Charlton.

Scorers: Tries: Mike Pope, Dean Taylor-Menzies; Conversion: Tony Yapp; Penalty: Brett Turner

Redruth: Craig Bonds, Tom Notman (Murray Westren 79), Romey Vassell, Sam Parsons, Frazer Kellythorne, Paul Thirlby, Greg Goodfellow, Peter Joyce (Craig Williams 51), Richard Brown, Darren Jacques, Rob Heath (Jake Rayment 78), Damien Cook, Chris Fuca (Capt.), Owen Hambly, Tom Duncan.

Replacements (not used): Neal Turner, Tarron Peacock.

Scorers: Tries: Craig Bonds, Tom Duncan (2); Conversions: Paul Thirlby (2); Penalties: Paul Thirlby (2)