A pulsating match at the Recreation Ground saw the Reds eventually run out convincing winners on the scoreboard. The game was anything but one sided though as they visitors always looked dangerous, their power runners regularly causing alarms in the Redruth defence. The Reds though were clinical in attack and their backs looked like they could score at any time from anywhere on the field. To make the report tell the true tale of the match please see my blow by blow account.

2 mins: Kingsbridge drop a pass on halfway and a swift pass finds Luke Johnson who kicks ahead and easily wins the race to touchdown in Hellfire Corner. Nat Dart majestically converts from the touchline. 7 - 0

6 mins: Kingsbridge kick out of their 22 and Sam Wolfe fields on halfway, feeds Dart who times his pass perfectly to Rhys Bowery who skins the cover defence to go over for a converted try. 14 – 0

Reds looking good but lose their 2nd lineout in the opposition 22. Kingsbridge get into the Reds half for the 1st time and start to play some good phase rugby and win a penalty on the 22.

16 mins: Kings tap the penalty get to the Reds 5 metre and eventually go over in the scoreboard corner for an unconverted try. 14 – 5

18 mins: From a lineout on the visitors 22 the Reds go off the top at the tail, Johnson comes onto the ball at pace cuts through the defence, hands off the last man and is over in Hellfire Corner for an unconverted try. 19 – 5

21 mins: From a lineout on Kings 10 metre the Reds move the ball to the left and Luca Brano makes a clean break, slips the ball to supporting right wing Aden Earnshaw who races over for the Reds bonus point try. Dart converts. 26 – 5

The Reds are playing with so much confidence now and moving the ball with pace from any area on the pitch and force a penalty in the 22.

24 mins: The Reds tap and after the forwards have had a go or two they move the ball, Dart chips deftly and Wolfe gets the touchdown just inside the dead ball line for a converted try. 33 – 5

A Yellow card for Kings soon follows and things were looking bleak for the visitors, but they had not read the script as further Reds pressure does not provide and end result. Kings move the ball from their own half and Bailey Williams ends up with a yellow card for a tackle adjudged to be high.

34 mins: From the 5-metre line out the maul gets close and a few pick-and-goes later Kings are over for their 2nd try which was converted. 33 – 12
Halftime: Redruth 33 – 12 Kingsbridge

If you thought the first 40 was action packed you ain’t seen nothing yet!
Whilst the Reds had a big buffer by any standards the visitors had shown they could move the ball with pace and their power runners were looking threatening. This game was not over by any means. Running the ball from their own 22 Kings put together a great series of phases ending with a penalty in the Reds 22.

43 mins: The 5-metre lineout maul was stopped but a player breaks off and crashes over in Hellfire Corner for a try superbly converted. 33 - 19

A period of end-to-end rugby now ensues with both sides running it from anywhere. Earnshaw intercepts on halfway, finds Brano who is brought down within touching distance of the Kings line but the visitors win a penalty to clear.

48 mins: Kings have run the ball from their own 22 into the Reds half but Earnshaw intercepts for the second time. A customary fist pump and then a 50 metre sprint later he is over under the posts for a converted try. 40 – 19

The Reds run out of defence but a poor pass and the Reds knock on just outside of their 22.

52 mins: Kings pressure the Reds, win a penalty 5-metres out, tap and force their way over for a converted try. 40 – 26

57 mins: Kings powerful runners are causing the Reds a lot of trouble. From a scrum on the 22 they chip over the top, regather and score under the posts for a converted try. 40 – 33

It’s now only a 7-point game and the Reds supporters are starting to get nervous.
Bailey Williams destroys a ruck on halfway and wins a penalty which gets the Reds on the front foot again. The penalty goes into the 22.

62 mins: The Reds go to the tail and the maul makes good ground and the Reds win a penalty. They tap and after some forward charges move the ball swiftly to the left and Bowery is over in the corner. Dart hits the bar with the touchline conversion. 45 – 33

64 mins: The Reds win a lineout on their own 10 metre line. They go to the tail and come off the top, prop forward Williams takes the ball at pace and bashes through the Kings defence. He gets to just outside the 22 and feeds the supporting Will Luscombe who shows good pace to go over wide out. Dart again converts with great style. 52 – 33

Kingsbridge may be well behind but they are not down and again their powerful runners punch holes in the Redruth defence to force the home side back into their 22 but the Reds manage to hold-up the ball over the line.

70 mins: The pressure tells and from a scrum 10 metres out the visitors No.8 picks up and powers over in Hellfire Corner for an unconverted try. 52 – 48

The Reds lead by 14 points but still the victory is not in the bag as the visitors are looking confident and run from their own 22 up to the Reds 22. The move unfortunately ends with a but knock-on.

74 mins: The Reds run the ball out of defence and win a penalty on the visitors 22 in front of the posts. The Reds opt for the kick to make the game safe. 55 – 38

Kingsbridge come close to another try but the Reds turn the ball over on their own line.

79 mins: Kingsbridge spill the ball in the Reds 22 and the Reds counterattack. Marley Johns makes good ground, finds Wolfe who kicks ahead, Dart is first to the ball and shows his football skills to dribble the ball forwards and score under the posts. Dart converts his own try to end the game. 62 - 38

After such a breathless encounter the Reds next take on this seasons Counties 1 Tribute Ale Western West champions Wiveliscombe. Please get down to the Recreation ground next Saturday, its your last chance for some time, to support the Reds as they try to put a small damper on their visitors celebrations and end their own season in style.

Redruth
Tries: Johnson (2), Bowery (2), Earnshaw (2), Wolfe, Luscombe, Dart.
Conv: Dart (7).
Pen: Dart
Yellow Card: Williams.

Kingsbridge
Tries: (6).
Conv: (4).
Yellow Card: (1).

Referee: Archie Prout

'Are you not entertained?'
Iconic line delivered by Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 film Gladiator.