REDRUTH kept their fine run going with another scalp at home against a top-of-the-table side, writes Bill Hooper.

The win also brings Redruth within striking distance of the promotion battle with just eight league games left.

However any such thoughts are not in the mind of Director of Rugby Nigel Hambly, who said: “I am pleased with the win but I was disappointed we didn’t make more of our chances during the first half, I felt we should have been two or three tries ahead.

“Having said that our forwards again put in a huge performance putting a very good pack under pressure at scrum-time, whilst our defence was again very good, some of the tackles were bone crunching.”

The visitors were greeted by a partisan Redruth crowd with the added backing of the Cadgwith Singers who certainly added to the atmosphere throughout the game.

Tonbridge, playing down the slope into the wind, began confidently with their Cornish back Duncan Tout showing some good touches.

Redruth’s defence was again outstanding with prop Tommy Phillips knocking back the visitors with some huge hits.

Following good work from the forwards Redruth got the opening score when centre Connor Gilbert jinked his way to the line from close quarters. Fly-half Fraser Honey added the conversion for a useful 7-0 lead.

Redruth continued to pile on the pressure but couldn’t turn it into points.

Tonbridge reduced the arrears when fly-half Will Robinson kicked a penalty from the 22 nearing half-time.

Early in the second half good play from scrum-half Jack Oulton almost created a second try for the Reds.

As the half wore on and both defences on top scoring chances became a premium.

Robinson missed with a couple of penalty chances in the tricky wind.

The turning point came when with Redruth pressing near the Tonbridge line the visitors lost two players in quick succession to the sin-bin. Redruth took full advantage forcing Tonbridge to illegally disrupt a driving maul giving the referee no option but to award a penalty try.

Despite Tonbridge trying to get something from the game, Redruth held out for the win and put themselves very much in the promotion race with eight games to play.

Redruth: Shepherd, Janes, Simmons, Gilbert, Bonds, Honey, Oulton; Phillips, Brown, Williams, Prisk, Pascoe, Fox (Capt), Grubb, Howe. Reps: Ma’asi, Tompsett, Fuca, Stevens, Vinnicombe.

Redruth scores: Try: Gilbert, Penalty try; Con: Honey.