Redruth 33, Henley Hawks 20

Redruth scored the bonus point try with the final play of the game when hooker Richard Brown was driven over by his pack to see off the Hawks in dramatic fashion, writes Bill Hooper.

This was an absolute humdinger of a game, played at a cracking pace throughout by two sides at the top of their game.

Director of Rugby Nigel Hambly was pleased with the win but wasn’t going to get carried away, saying: “I am pleased with the win, we showed character and commitment out there today, but we also made some errors, let them in for a couple of tries, so there are still bits to work on. We are on the right track but we have to do it all again next week at Bury St Edmunds.”

From the kick-off Henley looked to impose their game through their big forwards, however, and not for the first time this season, the Redruth defence was steadfast, knocking back the big Henley ball carriers.

First blood went to the Hawks when scrum-half Ewan Fenley got in among his forwards to be driven over for an unconverted try.

Redruth got back down field earning a penalty in front of the posts that fly-half Fraser Honey had no trouble in converting.

The frenetic pace continued unabated, from a line out Redruth built up a head of steam with flanker Mark Grubb making good ground before wing Dean Bonds took the ball to score in the corner.

Henley’s Ben Bolster then kicked a penalty to tie the scores before a series a pick and goes from Redruth near the Henley line ended with prop Tommy Phillips driving over for a try converted by Honey.

The see-saw nature of the game continued as Henley got into the Redruth twenty-two and from their own drive hooker Tom Emery was driven over for an unconverted score.

Redruth then scored the try of the game, centre Connor Gilbert glided through the cover making good ground into the twenty-two finding fellow centre Jack Simmons in support, Simmons had a lot to do but his strength saw him ride the tackle to score in Hell fire corner.

Honey banged over the extras to give Redruth a deserved half-time lead 22-13.

Henley once again started the half strongly, playing down the slope, again the Redruth defence was top draw.

Gilbert lifted the siege with a good fly-hack down field, however this allowed the Hawks to launch a lightning counter attack that saw flying wing Reuben Norville put in space to canter in at the Piggy lane corner, Bolster’s conversion brought the Hawks right back into the game 22-20.

Redruth weathered the storm, Honey kicked two crucial penalties to give his side some leeway.

Hawks threw everything into the final five minutes and looked certain to score, but Redruth again stayed strong earning a penalty that Honey kicked to the corner to set up the drive that saw Brown go over to the rapturous cheers of the Redruth faithful.

Redruth: Shepherd, Janes, Simmons, Gilbert, Bonds, Honey, Oulton; Phillips, Brown, Williams, T Prisk, Pascoe, Clemson, Grubb, Ryan. Reps: Barnes, Tompsett, J Prisk, Howe, Davey.

Redruth scores: Tries: Bonds, Phillips, Simmons, Brown; Cons: Honey 2; Pens: Honey 3.