Reds beat Stourbridge in final home game of season (From Falmouth Packet)

Reds beat Stourbridge in final home game of season

11:06am Thursday 23rd April 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

There was a man of the match performance from Richard Carroll in his last home game as Redruth squeezed to a narrow win over old rivals Stourbridge.

Carroll, who has played with distinction for both Camborne and Redruth in addition to the Cornish Pirates, put in a lot of hard work and strong surging runs as Redruth had to work hard against the visitors giant pack.

Conditions were perfect and a large crowd saw England Counties lock Luke Collins presented with the supporters’ player of the year award before kick off and then observed a respectful minute’s silence for former Redruth fly-half John Gribble.

Redruth kicked off down the slope and it was soon clear that the visitors who are in danger of relegation had come to make a game of it as the Reds struggled for possession in the opening quarter.

The opening score came after 22 minutes when Stourbridge counter attacked after Paul Thirlby failed to find touch with a clearance kick. After moving the ball across field Martin Freeman made a lot of ground before Ali Bressington won a chip and chase to touchdown in the scoreboard corner. Referee Nick Williams from Yatton consulting with a touch judge before awarding the try. Bressington converting with a very good kick from the touchline.

Mark Scrivener kicked a penaly from in front of the posts in the 34th minute as the visitors killed the ball when Redruth uped the pace of the game.

Hard working Flanker Chris Fuca, who has had a good season, limped off with a knee injury after 37 minutes to be replaced by David Roberts.

At scrum-half Nick Simmons had grabbed the chance to fill Mark Richards boots, a massive task.

With half time approaching he used a swivel and a dummy at the base of a ruck and outwitted the Stour defence to race 20 metres for a try under the posts that Scrivener converted.

Bressington was just wide with a penalty from the left hand touchline on the stroke of half time as the Reds took a 10-7 lead into the half time.

Brett Rule replaced the injured Scrivener at the interval and was soon into the game kicking a well-judged penalty from wide out on the left-hand touchline after 43 minutes but he was off target with two other shots closer to the posts.

In the Reds’ best move of the game three minutes later Paul Thirlby, James Mann played important roles with Roberts linking well for Rob Thirlby to touchdown a try that put the Reds 11 points ahead.

Frustratingly Redruth could not stretch their lead Craig Bonds playing his 200th match for the Reds an outstanding achievement in the modern game did not get many chances in attack.

Former Leicester player Jon Holtby ran through a big gap 40 metres out for a try in the 66th minute that Bressington converted to put the result in doubt.

With stand in captain Mark Bright playing in the centre in place of the injured Paul Thirlby, Redruth endured some nervous moments in the closing stages to keep Stourbridge out, the visitors will feel a little unlucky not to go back to the west Midlands with a win.

• Print
• Email
• Share