Redruth 26, Dings Crusaders 23

With the game looking set to end as a draw Redruth were awarded a penalty deep into time added on, up stepped fly-half Fraser Honey to kick a monster 50 metre penalty from half-way to give the Reds a hard fought win, writes Bill Hooper.

It was a game that ebbed and flowed throughout with referee James Milliner busy brandishing cards of all colours.

Dings struck first with a penalty from skipper Steve Plummer, that was cancelled out moments later when Redruth kicked to the corner and from the catch and drive prop Jess Tompsett drove over with Honey adding the extras.

Good pressure from Dings saw them earn a second penalty through Plummer to cut the deficit.

Back came Redruth with a flowing backs move from wings Lewis Vinnicombe and Dean Bonds, the later was hauled down just short but Tompsett was on-hand to score his second try of the game.

Both centres Connor Gilbert and Jack Simmons were putting in some big tackles in the mid-field but eventually pressure told as Plummer kicked a third penalty for the visitors.

Ding’s hooker Joe Hawkesby put in a storming run into the Redruth twenty-two, Reds scrum-half Jack Oulton was yellow carded as the cover scrambled to get back.

From the resulting play Dings pressed home the advantage working space out wide for centre Marcus Brooker to score and Plummer to convert putting Dings 16-12 up at the break.

Honey kicked a good penalty early in the second half to bring the Reds back to within a point.

Then came a potential turning point when Vinnicombe was red-carded for a double yellow offence leaving Redruth with just 14 men and most of the crowd perplexed.

A galvanised Red stormed back first scoring a penalty through Honey and a then a brilliant third try through Bonds in the corner as Dings found themselves down to 14 men with a player in the bin.

Back came the visitors as relentless pressure from Dings saw fly-half Luke Arscott cut through to score near the posts with Plummer on the money with the conversion to tie the scores at 23-all.

That seemed to be how the game would end until Honey’s mighty final effort gave Redruth the win and sent the Redruth faithful home in good cheer.

Redruth: Simmonds, Vinnicombe, Simmons, Gilbert, Bonds, Honey, Oulton; Tompsett, Brassington, Williams, T Prisk, J Prisk, Fox, Grubb, Howe (Capt).

Redruth scores: Tries - Tompsett 2, Bonds. Cons - Honey 2. Pens - Honey 3.