REDRUTH 32pts

Tries: P. Thirlby, T. McBride, R. Thirlby, N. Pascoe

Conversion: M. Hook (3)

Penalty: M. Hook (2)

Redruth: Craig Bonds (capt) (Simon Peters 71), Rob Thirlby, P J Gidlow, Paul Thirlby, Tim McBride, Mike Hook, Mark Richards, Darren Jacques, Sam Harrison (Matt Gidlow 55), Peter Joyce (Ashley Morcom 55), Damien Cook, Richard Carroll, Nathan Pascoe, Chris Fuca (Ryan Spargo 71), Mark Bright.

STOURBRIDGE 28pts

Tries: A. Bressington (2), J. Jenner, A. Muldowney

Conversions: A. Bressington (4)

Yellow Card: M. Richards (33 mins.)

Stourbridge: Jon Hall, Martin Freeman (Nick Baxter 69), Lachlan Porteous, Mark Eastwood (Cameron Mitchell 60), Ally Bressington, Chris Buck, Chris Rowley, Adam Sturdey (Virgil Hartland 52), Alan Keylock, James Tideswell, Ramsay Dean (Simon Homer 46), Ally Muldowney, Ben Gerry, Tom Jordon, Jim Jenner (capt.).

Referee: Mr T. Fisher (RFU)

REDRUTH ended their National League division two season on a high with an unbeaten record in 2007 and finishing in fourth place after beating Stourbridge by 32 points to 28 at the Recreation Ground. Next season cannot come soon enough for the Reds.

All this is in contrast to the opening day of the season when on a dismal wet day in the West Midlands Redruth were beaten 17-6 at Stourbridge. Ten of the side that stated the season were in Saturday's line up but the attitude, approach and expectation has changed significantly over the last eight months.

Enormous credit goes to head coach Nigel Hambly with his management team of David Penberthy and Matt Stearn along with other backroom staff such as Rich Kennedy, Dave Ricketts and Guy Bonham who have done an incredible job. Hambly, to his credit, always had belief in the players when many supporters were having big doubts back in September. Craig Bonds, too, has emerged as a great leader and there is a buzz in the club for the first time in a long while.

In front of the second best attendance of the season the Reds supporters' glass of good cheer is close to overflowing with the announcement at half time that Lewis Vinnecombe has signed a two-year contract to return to the Recreation ground from the Cornish Pirates.

Before the match it was no surprise that Mark Bright cleaned up the player of the year awards along with a special presentation to Mike Hook to mark his record points scoring.

Playing with a stiff breeze up the slope Redruth opened with a penalty by Hook. The patience of Trevor Fisher, an experienced national panel referee, was tested with Alan Keylock and Reds Mark Richards getting yellow cards.

With Redruth making heavy weather of turning possession into points on a bone-hard dusty surface, it was not until the 37th minute that Paul Thirlby touched down a try improved by Hook for the Reds to lead 10-0 at the break.

An impressive start to the second period saw Tim McBride touch down a try from an impressive back line move.

Redruth went for the jugular as Richards took a quick penalty in front of the posts, but Ally Bressington intercepted and ran the length of the field for a solo try that he also converted.

Hook extended the Reds lead, but the former Gloucestershire cricketer Bressington touched down a second try that he also converted as Stourbridge refused to be shaken off.

In a good spell for the Reds Rob Thirlby touched down his sixth try in four games since his Return from Gloucester that Hook did well to convert into the wind.

Then with 10 minutes to go Nathan Pascoe, who has had a good season, touched down a pushover try with Hook despite carrying an injury, putting over another good conversion to finish the season with 271 points from 25 league games. The former Wales under 21 international is the only member of the side not yet to have re-signed for next season.

Another local lad who has come through the Colts system, Ryan Spargo, came on for Chris Fuca late in the game to get his first taste of national league rugby. At the other end of the scale the league's record all-time try scorer, Nick Baxter, made a cameo appearance to end his career on the Stourbridge wing.

With the Reds wilting towards the final whistle, the spirited visitors hit back with tries by skipper Jim Jenner and from the last move of the game by Ally Muldowney. Bressington converted both as Stourbridge went back to Worcestershire with two bonus points.

With Esher and Cornish All Blacks promoted to national one and Harrogate, Barking and Bradford relegated, the following teams will come into the league next season Waterloo, Otley, Southend, Westcombe Park and Blaydon. Roll on September!

n England and British Lions legend and World Cup winner Steve Thompson will be visiting Cornwall in the summer to coach and encourage fresh young players as he launches The Steve Thompson Academies in association with Rugby Matters across England.

Boys and girls aged 7-16 years will attend three-day and five-day Academies, carefully tailored by Steve Thompson and his team of experts to age and ability. Every participant will receive coaching from Steve and his team of coaches, as well as a host of goodies to take home with them.

The venues include Redruth and Penzance.