ONCE again the Redruth crowd were rewarded with great value for money in a match full of tension and excitement, writes Roger Watson.

The visitors went in front in the fifth minute and again in the 70th and the scores were level on three occasions with the result in the balance until the final whistle.

But it was the Reds who deservedly came out on top in this scintillating seven try thriller which ended 28-24.

Reds’ head coach Steve Larkins was delighted with the second bonus point win in a row at The Recreation Ground.

Larkins said: “We knew they would be dangerous on the counter attack, they have a quality back three but we defended well and looked more comfortable in attack.

“Our set scrum was superb, driving them backwards all the time but it wasn’t really reflected in the score, but I am pleased though.

“We’ve got two weeks on the road now with tricky trips to Worthing and Shelford but so far, despite the fantastic support we get here, we’ve played better away from home.”

Tom Notman, making his final appearance in the red shirt before setting off on his travels, led out the Reds and fittingly he signed off with a well taken try in the 52nd minute.

The host’s pack had a wonderful afternoon and laid the foundations for the win, but this was not a purely forward orientated game with both sides showing their desire to play running rugby.

Bishop’s Stortford were quickly out of the blocks pinning the home side in Hellfire Corner from the kick off.

Retaining the ball well they crossed the line, but referee Ian Bibey ruled that the ball had been held up.

The Reds conceded a free kick from the five metre scrum which was quickly taken resulting in a try by McCraith and a simple conversion for skipper Tom Coleman.

Stung into action, the home side hit back with a well taken try by Chris Fuca which was converted by Murray Westren to level things up.

A superb dart from close in saw Greg Goodfellow cross for Redruth with Ashley Hosking, on for Westren, adding the extras.

By now the Redruth pack were in full cry and making life very difficult for Stortford in the scrum.

However some quality running by the visitors’ backs stretched the Reds’ defence with Robin Wedlake and Nielson Webber both making key tackles.

After the break, Stortford showed their intentions again as deft handling caught Redruth flat-footed enabling scrum-half Tom Dougherty to touch down, with Coleman’s tricky conversion making it a seven point score.

Direct running by Redruth set up a strong attacking position from which another tremendous break by Goodfellow led to Notman crossing for Westren to convert.

The visitors demonstrated their quality when, despite being driven backwards over their try line by the Redruth forwards, they broke out to set up a platform from which full-back Nick Hankin scored with Coleman adding the extras to level things once again.

Stortford then took the lead for the first time since the tenth minute of the game when Coleman’s penalty attempt was successful.

There were just ten minutes left but the Reds were determined not to let this game slip through their fingers though and stormed back at their opponents.

A powerful drive from a lineout twenty metres out resulted in a Damien Cook try, converted by Hosking to seal the win.

REDRUTH: 15 Notman (Bowden, 64), 14 Kessell, 13 Webber, 12 Parsons, 11 Wedlake, 10 Westren (Hosking, 34, 57), 9 Goodfellow; 1 Phillips (Tompsett, 58), 2 Brown, 3 Williams (Drew, 76), 4 Cook, 5 Bailey (Prisk, 61), 6 Fuca (c), 7 Priddey, 8 Marriot.

TRIES: Fuca (11), Goodfellow (36), Notman (52), Cook (71).

CONS: Westren 2/2, Hosking 2/2.