The Reds side can have no complaints about the result of this match but should be proud of their efforts against a much more experienced side. The Barum side included amongst others a 10, 15 and two back row players with great experience of National League rugby. The kicking especially of Swales at 10 and McManus at 15 gained the visitors so many easy metres making life tough for the Reds. The Redruth side contained 8 teenagers, and the average age of the starting XV was U20. OK when I say 15 what I really mean is 14 as we have to exclude the evergreen Darren Jacques from the calculations!

On a calm day with the pitch in good condition Barnstaple kicked off playing towards Hellfire Corner and after some midfield play the visitors struck. A quick tap in midfield and some good phase play ended with a try in Piggy Lane corner for Knight converted from the touchline by McManus. The Reds now got on the front foot and a Dart penalty pulled back 3 points. Barum soon extended their lead with a driving maul try from Rowe after a 5-metre lineout, this time the touchline conversion going wide to put the visitors 9 points up on 20 minutes. Barum were now on top and after severe pressure in the Reds 22 Vickery drove over after taking a tap penalty 5 metres out, the conversion was good and the lead 16 points. The Reds soon hit back with a Dart penalty and were then to dominate the last 10 minutes of the half. Multiple times they mauled towards the Barum line, or had pick-an-goes from close in and the visitors conceded a string of penalties which eventually led to Yellow Card for Barker. Eventually the dam broke and Jack Kemp, on debut, went over for a converted try.
Halftime: Redruth 13 – 19 Barnstaple

With only a 6-point deficit and the advantage of playing down the slope could the Reds push on in the second period? Things didn’t start well for the Reds with Ollie Darby receiving a Yellow Card only 2 minutes after the break. Consistent pressure from the visitors ended with a try by back-rower Smale which McManus converted to extend their lead. The Reds hit back quickly and were mauling in the visitors 22 when Luke Young was lifted off his feet and brought down very dangerously leaving the referee no option but to show Rowe a Red card. After a period of pressure, the Reds tapped a 5-metre penalty and Bailey Willimas went over in the corner for an unconverted try to cut the deficit to 8 points on 53 minutes. That was a good as it got in the second period for the Reds as Barum were now the best side for the next 20 minutes with the kicking of Swales and McManus consistently driving the Reds back. Barum added 3 tries in this period with 2 being converted. The Reds did not let their heads drop though. With time running out they pressed the visitors back into their 22 and eventually Will Luscombe crossed wide out, Dart converted superbly with the last action of the match.

Next Saturday the Reds take on Truro at home, kick-off TBC.

Redruth
Tries: Kemp, Williams, Luscombe.
Conv: Dart (2).
Pen: Dart (2).
Yellow Card: Darby.

Barnstaple
Tries: Knight, Rowe, Vickery, Smale, Barrow (2), Jago.
Conv: McManus (5).
Yellow Card: Barker.
Red Card: Rowe.

Referee: Ben Sanders-Crook.