On Saturday at the Recreation Ground in Redruth, Redruth RFC took all five points as Clifton grabbed two in this ten try thriller. Redruth won the game 42 – 36 in a close fought contest in the National Division Two South. The Reds appeared to dominate the first ten minutes of the match, and they were rewarded by a try in the third minute via Jamie Semmens. The Reds then extended their lead to ten points in the twelfth minute through an Aaron Penberthy penalty goal.
However, Clifton started to find their feet and a string of poor defending let them in for their first try of the game, in the fourteenth minute by Neil Davis. Clifton appeared to gain confidence and straight from the kick off they came charging to the Red’s line. More poor tackling by the Reds let in Clifton number 13, Smee, for Clifton’s second try of the game after 16 minutes.
This setback seemed to spur on the Reds, and three minutes after Clifton’s try an Aaron Penberthy drop goal brought the Reds to within a point of their opponents. Then in the twenty-seventh minute a Tom Duncan try gave the Reds the lead once again and three minutes after that a try by McAtee extended their lead to nine points. Redruth were looking very confident at this stage and were playing with a certain swagger. In the thirty-seventh minute, they secured the bonus point as McAtee’s scored his second try, leaving the match at half time, Redruth 32, Clifton 14.
The second half began in the same manner as the first; the Reds dominating the early possession with Clifton making a string of errors. The Reds were unlucky to not extend their lead, but they failed to take their chances with Aaron Penberthy missing a penalty goal three minutes into the second half. Then Lewis Vinnicombe knocked the ball on just in front of the line. The Reds were made to rue their missed chances and Clifton came in with two tries in the space of just nine minutes leaving the score at 32 – 28.
This setback seemed to demoralise the Reds and they continued to make costly errors as Clifton piled on the pressure. They were only saved by some desperate last ditch tackles. However the Reds slowly began to find their feet again. They put pressure on the Clifton line and were rewarded in the seventy-seventh minute by a try from Goodfellow. This appeared to have put the game to bed once and for all, but a storming run by Clifton’s number 7, Harrison, led to a try for the visitors. Fortunately for the Reds, Clifton missed the conversion leaving the game at 42 – 33 to the Reds.
Clifton were awarded a late penalty, but as this was going to be the last play in the game they decided to take the three points, ensuring they got a losing bonus point. The Reds were fortunate to win this one, but they still came away with all five points.
Ends (505 Words)
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Match Statistics:
Attendance: 782
Redruth
Tries: J. Semmens 2, T. Duncan 26, R. McAtee 28, 35, G. Goodfellow 76; Conversions: Penberthy 2, 27, 36, 76; Penalties: Penberthy 10, 68; Drop Goal: Penberthy 18
Clifton
Tries: W. Davis 14, S. Smee 15, M. Davies 48, J. Gadd 58, S. Harrison 78; Conversions: G. Knox 15, 16, 48, 58; Penalty: G. Knox 80
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