A SPIRITED Redruth side made Champions elect Henley Hawks fight hard for their victory as they showed their title credentials with a splendid show of pace, power and handling skills, writes Roger Watson.

Fly-half James Comben pulled the strings for the Hawks and added 11 points through his reliable boot to leave the runaway league leaders needing only five points from the last four games to secure the title.

But the Reds made them fight all the way as they worked hard in defence and showed plenty of ambition when they had the ball in hand.

Afterwards Redruth’s head coach Steve Larkins gave full credit to the winners.

“They are a classy outfit but we showed that we are not far short of them,” he said.

“They came with a good game plan and quality players to execute it, they deserve to be up there.

“We stuck at it though and at times the margins were small but small things can make a big difference.

“Sometimes in rugby you have to put your hands up and say that you were beaten by a better side.”

The Reds conceded a scrum on half way from the kick-off and immediately the Hawks’ attack looked ominous.

Despite some valiant defence by the home side, the visitors attacked with purpose and their skipper Dave Clements crossed for a try after just four minutes.

Comben’s conversion attempt bounced back off the uprights but his next attempt, from a penalty, was successful to give the visitors an eight point cushion before the hosts achieved any meaningful possession.

Redruth enjoyed a decent period in attack once they got their hands on the ball but a well organised Henley defence restricted them to a Murray Westren penalty to show for their efforts before Comben’s penalty put the Hawks further ahead just before the break.

At the resumption, a reinvigorated Redruth showed a real sense of determination and scored an excellent try as forwards and backs combined well culminating in Kyle Marriot driving over to reduce the deficit to three points after 42 minutes.

The Hawks quickly regrouped and showed their class when left winger Jake Randall finished a superb move by their backs, Comben adding the extras from the touchline.

When Comben’s penalty extended the visitors’ lead to 13 points with just 15 minutes remaining, the result seemed a formality, but the Redruth pack had other ideas.

A penalty from a powerful scrum was kicked to the corner and from the ensuing line-out a series of drives sucked in the Henley defence to create the space for Rhodri McAtee to dart over and keep the Reds in the game.

The final word went to the Henley pack who were awarded a penalty try as Redruth infringed for a third time from line-outs close to their line giving Comben the simplest of kicks to seal the win.

The Reds now take a break from the action before travelling to Dorking on March 28, whose recent run of poor form, their last win being on Valentine’s Day, has seen them slip from second to fourth in the race for the runners-up slot.

REDRUTH: 15 Westren, 14 Wedlake, 13 Webber, 12 Parsons (Vinnicombe 65), 11 Bowden, 10 Rule (McAtee 65), 9 Goodfellow; 1 Southworth (Drew 55), 2 Brown, 3 Williams, 4 Cook, 5 Howe (Hambly 32), 6 Fuca (C) (Howe 60), 7 Stevens, 8 Marriot.

UNUSED REPS: Turner.

TRIES: Marriot (42), McAtee (68).

PEN: Westren (25).