AN ASHLEY Hosking penalty with the last kick of the game earned Redruth a losing bonus point at Canterbury, writes Ed Bawden.

Despite having a man advantage for more than 50 minutes of the game after Ricky MacKintosh was sent off for the home side, the Reds could not get on top of their opponents who won 28-23.

Head coach Steve Larkins was very disappointed his side failed to get the better of Canterbury.

Larkins said: “It was well within our grasp, it was very winnable at half time, we had a bit of wind they had the slope so I think it was evens when it came to conditions in the second half.

“Little things make big differences, two points down, we miss touch with a penalty they kick back, we leave the ball bounce and they go 80m to score the winning try.

“It is a long way to travel but we have got to concentrate for the full 80 minutes, which we did not do today we got a way back into the game at 10–17 and looked in domination and control but let things slip so it was four points lost rather than a bonus point gained.

“We will look at this game same as the Clifton one and say it was winnable, but we have got to stop saying this and win games.

“We have got some positives from the game but generally the boys are going to be disappointed with that result. At half time we were on the up and came out very positive”.

Once again, Redruth on the road were left to rue a slow start with Canterbury showing good patience to go through the phases after the visitors failed to control the kick-off, with man-of-the-match Martyn Beaumont giving a scoring pass to Mason Rosvall after two minutes.

The hosts added a second try through Beaumont after 13 minutes before Redruth started to play as Greg Goodfellow went over after a quickly taken penalty ten yards out, with Murray Westren adding the extras.

A blatant punch to Rhodri McAtee’s head by MacKintosh right in front of assistant referee Simon Dodd left referee Rob Warburton with few options but to produce the red card.

McAtee surprisingly also picked up a yellow card but took no further part in the game due to a cut as a result of the blow.

Soon after Goodfellow did well to use his pace to go around the defence for an unconverted try and on the stroke of half time, Kyle Marriot picked up at the back of a strong Redruth scrum to charge over for an unconverted try to see the Cornishmen take a seven point lead into the break.

Canterbury were quick out of the blocks in the second period the classy Beaumont using his pace to get on the outside of the Redruth defence for Canterbury’s third unconverted try.

The Reds had a good spell of possession but could not get enough territory to create a score and Canterbury fly-half Tom Best kicked a penalty from in front of the posts after 65 minutes to nudge the hosts ahead.

Westren failed to find touch with a penalty and Canterbury who played some good rugby counter attacked, Best’s kick ahead looked to be covered by Goodfellow and Damien Cook.

But the ball bounced between them and sat up ideally for Best who cantered over to touch down under the crossbar and added the extras for good measure.

Replacement Hosking put over a well struck penalty from 40m to get Redruth back into bonus point territory but soon after Best responded with a penalty from 35m.

In the final kick of the game Hosking kicked a penalty from in front of the posts to give the Reds some consolation for the long journey back home.

REDRUTH: 15 Westren, 14 Kessell (Hosking 68), 13 Parsons (c), 12 Webber, 11 Wedlake, 10 McAtee (Bonds 38), 9 Goodfellow; 1 Phillips (Southworth 65), 2 Turner, 3 Drew (Tompsett 55), 4 Cook, 5 Prisk (Joyce 69), 6 Howe, 7 Stevens, 8 Marriott.

TRIES: Goodfellow (2), Marriott.

CONS: Westren 1/3.

PENS: Hoskings (2).

SIN-BIN: McAtee (28).