Redruth 50, Clifton 36

Redruth took the spoils in a 14-try thriller at a sunny Recreation Ground outscoring their opponents by eight tries to six, writes Bill Hooper.

It was just the performance the Redruth faithful were looking for following the big defeat at Worthing two weeks ago.

Clifton made the better start with their big pack racing to a 17-5 lead after 15 minutes, thanks to tries from Mitch Spencer, Chris Rovery and David Hill, with Brad Barnes adding a conversion to an unconverted try for Redruth scored by wing Brad Janes.

Redruth were undaunted drawing level with two quick-fire scores from wing Cornish, who scored the try of the game following a dazzling run that took him through the Clifton side from half-way to dot down at the posts, and then scrum-half Jack Oulton with his opener from distance made from a pass flipped up given by centre Jack Simmons, fly-half Richie Kevern adding the first of his four conversions.

Before half-time Redruth scored a further three tries through full-back Aaron Simmonds, flanker Mark Grubb, following good work from fellow back rower Ben Fox, and Oulton, completing his brace to turnaround 36-17 up at half-time.

The second half was barely a minute old when centre Connor Gilbert made a good break from half-way spinning out of a tackle to run hard into Hellfire corner and score Redruth’s seventh try of the afternoon.

There followed tit-for-tat scores as Alex Giltrow and Sam Stevens, following a powerful maul by the home pack, crossed for their respective sides, Simmonds adding the extras to the later score.

Redruth brought on prop Tom Concu and hooker Tom Cowan-Dickie both on loan from the Cornish Pirates for this game.

With the result in the bag Redruth relaxed allowing Clifton to claim two late tries from Ben Halpin and Aex Lambert, it mattered not as the dye was already cast allowing Redruth to record a fourth win from five starts.

Redruth: A Simmonds, B Janes, J Simmons (S Cornish 75), C Gilbert, S Cornish (T Notman 62), R Kevern (J Tucker 46), J Oulton; J Hodge, R Brown (Capt) (T Cowan-Dickie 51), C Williams (T Concu 51), L Hattam (B Howe 56), T Prisk, M Grubb, S Stevens, B Fox.

Redruth scores: Tries, Janes, Cornish, Oulton (2), Simmonds, Grubb, Gilbert, Stevens, Cons, Kevern (4), Simmonds.

Yellow Card: Concu (75)

Clifton: T Francis, B Halpin, S Harrison, H Campbell, A Lambert, B Barnes, M Spencer (D Openshaw 34); C Simpson, D Wheeler (B Edwards 20), A Giltrow (M Roberts 49), H Harper, David Hill, A Chesters (C Rovery 29), C Rovery (B Sullivan 23), Daniel Hill (S Taylor 56).

Clifton scores: Tries, Spencer, Rovery, David Hill, Giltrow, Halpin, Lambert, Cons Barnes (3)

Yellow Card: Harrison (33)

Referee: Andrew Wigley (RFU)

Crowd: 645

Redruth man-of-the-match: Jack Oulton.