Two evenly matched sides put on an exciting match for the spectators that went right down to the wire. When the Reds went 12 points clear with only 11 minutes remaining and the visitors down to 14 players victory for the Reds looked to be in the bag, clearly though nobody had told the visitors. Services pulled a try back with 6 minutes on the clock and then with the last play they scored a converted try to tie the match. Honours even and on the balance of play a fair result.

On a calm dry day Devonport kicked off playing towards Hellfire Corner. A couple of scrum penalties gave the Reds a lineout in the opposition 22 but the ball was lost in contact in midfield and Services countered. They made good ground deep into the Reds 22 and following a penalty, which they tapped, Charlie Over was, well over, in Hellfire Corner for an unconverted try. The play was now 50:50 with neither side able to break through although a good run from Lewis Bostock caught the eye. A defensive Services scrum in their own 22 was under pressure and Luke Young won a penalty for holding on. The Reds tapped and after one phase scrum half Callum Phillips saw a gap to dart over under the posts for a try he converted. 7-5 to the Reds on 26 minutes. Only a couple of minutes later the Reds had another. Services dropped the ball on halfway and Bostock hacked on; the defender won the race to the ball but knocked-on to give the Reds a 5-metre scrum. The home side moved the ball quickly to the left and Lewis Blewett squeezed over in the Tribute lounge Corner for an unconverted try. Services fashioned one chance before the break with a lineout in the Reds 22 but their maul was held up after good work from Jack Kemp. From the resulting scrum Phillips put up a steepling up-and-under which Services failed to gather and, in their desperation, gave away a penalty. Phillips made no mistake from 30 metres to end the half.
Half-Time: Redruth 15 – 5 Devonport Services

The Reds made a good start to the second period, from a lineout some 35 metres out Lewis Wills mad good ground, Oli Wells then went on the charge and after being tackled just short stretched out a telescopic arm to reach the try-line. Phillips converted to put the Reds 22-5 to the good. Just when it looked like the Reds might stretch away, the visitors hit back and a strong maul from a 5-metre lineout gave hooker Alex Lynch a try, converted by Glynn Reeves. The next piece of significant action proved crucial. The Reds were putting the phases together deep in the Services half when a long pass was intercepted and the visiting player sprinted 60 metres to the line for a converted try and make it a 5-point game on 66 minutes. Back came the Reds and from a lineout some 35 metres out Adam Hall made a break and got to within 5 metres, Services prevented quick ball but Kaiden Carne was still able to dive over for a converted try to give the Reds a 12-point lead with not much time to play. As previously mentioned Services hit back; firstly, with an unconverted 5-metre maul try and then Callum Phillips was then shown a yellow card after a desperate interception attempt failed. The Reds defended the resulting 5-metre maul but the visitors spread the ball to the wide-open spaces to cross for another try. The conversion was nailed to tie up affairs.

Whilst the visitors will have ended the match the happier having pulled the game out of the fire the Reds can feel proud of their efforts especially given that the team has hardly had the chance to play together and there were a number playing out of position.

Nathan Pryor of Cowgirls chose Jack Kemp as his Redruth Man-of-the-Match.
https://www.cowgirlscornwall.co.uk/

Images by Mike Freeman

Sadly, no games for the 2nd XV for the next two weeks but next Saturday the 1st XV are at home when they take on Taunton in a 1st plays 2nd encounter.

Redruth
Tries: Phillips, Blewett, Wells, Carne.
Conv: Phillips (3)
Pen: Phillips
Yellow Card: Phillips

Devonport Serives
Tries: Over, Lynch, ??(3)
Conv: Reeves, ??
Yellow Card: ??

Referee: Archie Prout.