Redruth 33, Old Albanian 15

Three tries in the final ten minutes of this pulsating encounter gave Redruth a bonus point win against a plucky Old Albanian side that will rue they didn’t make more of their first half advantage of playing down the slope, writes Bill Hooper.

Despite Old Albanian pressure early on it was Redruth who took an early lead thanks to a couple of penalties from full-back Aaron Simmonds.

Old Albanian’s reply came in style as a move from their own twenty-two lead to an unconverted try from centre Matt Deane in the corner.

Redruth scored their first try soon after from a catch and drive with skipper Richard Brown being driven over, Simmonds adding a fine conversion in the difficult wind.

The nip and tuck nature of the game continued and when fly-half Dan Watt kicked to the corner the visitors created a fine try for centre Charlie Watson that was bettered by Watt.

The score remained 13-12 to Redruth at half-time as frustratingly for Old Albanian they missed a clear overlap spilling the ball.

The third quarter remained tight until Redruth finally broke the deadlock following good work between Brad Howe and wing Dean Bonds with the No.8 going over for Redruth’s second try.

Watt trimmed the home advantage with a penalty as the game went into the final quarter.

The Redruth bench came into play with the like of Pale Nonu, Loma Kivalu and Jake Clemson making a difference. It was the latter who scored the Reds’ third try to put them two scores ahead.

Old Albanian pressed to get something from the game, a penalty chance was missed by the normally reliant Watt.

It was Redruth who finished the stronger with two breakway tries in the final moments. Centre Nielson Webber snaffled a stray pass to gallop in from 35 meters and then another storming run by Howe was finished off by wing Rob Coote in Hellfire Corner to deflate the visitors.

Redruth: A Simmonds, R Coote, J Simmons, N Webber, D Bonds, R Kevern, J Oulton; J Tompsett, R Brown (Capt), C Williams, T Prisk, J Heazelton, S Stevens, M Grubb, B Howe.

Replacements: L Kivalu, M Gidlow, J Clenson J Payne, P Nonu.

Redruth: Tries, Brown, Howe, Clemson, Webber, Coote, Con Simmonds, Pens, Simmonds 2