HALIFAX 20 pts
Tries: Greenwood, Emmerson
Conversion: Knowles, 2
Penalty: Knowles, 2
Halifax: J Knowles; C Emmerson, D Mitchell, D McGee, W Greenwood; T Eaton, C Aikman (rep J Bartlett 72 min); A Blades, C Mortimer (capt) (rep W Kay 66 min), K. Fullman (rep A Gravil 30-34 min), R Hill, G Jones, G Lewis, D Solomi, R Afoa-Peterson. Reps not used R Hughes
REDRUTH 39 pts
Tries: R Thirlby, 3, P Thirlby, M Bright
Conversions: Hook, 4
Penalty: Hook 2
Redruth: C Bonds (capt); R Thirlby, P Thirlby, PJ Gidlow (rep P Teixeira 73 min), T McBride; M Hook, M Richards; D Jacques, S Harrison (rep M Gidlow 62 min), A Morcom (P. Joyce 48 min), D Cook, R Carroll, N Pascoe, J Mann (rep C. Fuca half-time), M Bright
Referee: Mr B Fitzmaurice (RFU)
URGED on by a bus load of supporters who made the trip to west Yorkshire, Redruth did well to win a spirited game by five tries to two, scoring 19 points in the final 14 minutes.
The game was significant for a magnificent hat-trick of tries by Rob Thirlby and 14 more points for Mike Hook that gave him the record for scoring the most number of points in a league season for Redruth.
With both sides making mistakes on a firm surface on a warm overcast day, the match was never going to be a classic but it was compelling viewing as the spirited and stubborn home side refused to be brushed aside until the closing stages when the Reds ran in three tries.
Redruth coach Nigel Hambly was pleased with the result and said: "20 all with ten minutes to go was a bit tight but credit to the boys we got a bit of quality ball and got in behind them and created some damage. I thought the last three tries were outstanding. It is nice the boys can keep playing to the last whistle as we showed today, that's a special trait"
Redruth got off to a great start with James Mann punching a big hole in midfield. Rob Thirlby with very little space to work in put in an inch perfect chip ahead to touch down in the right hand corner. Hook converted from the touchline after three minutes.
Playing a wide game, Redruth were close to further tries with Craig Bonds and PJ Gidlow, twice going close. However, with Halifax's influential Rob Afoa-Peterson taking quick penalties, Redruth were penalised four times in a row. First, Joe Knowles put over a penalty from close range to get Halifax on the scoreboard after 14 minutes.. Then from the restart a break inside his 22 by Danny McGee led to a well taken try by Will Greenwood which was converted by Knowles to put the hosts 10-7 ahead.
The Halifax lead didn't last long before a 35 metre penalty by Hook into the breeze levelled the scores after 32 minutes. Another great try from Rob Thirlby following a set move converted by Hook got the Reds off to a good start in the opening minutes of the second period. Playing with tremendous spirit Halifax hit back when fly half Tom Eaton spotted a gap and Craig Emmerson finished off with a try that Knowles did well to convert to level the scores after 48 minutes.
A penalty by Hook from close to the posts in the 59th minute put Redruth ahead but Knowles missed with one shot at the sticks before levelling again at 20 all with 11 minutes to go.
The hard working Sam Harrison, who was spot on with his line-out throwing throughout the game was replaced by Matt Gidlow, younger brother of PJ, with a quarter of the game to go, to make his league debut for the Reds.
The work of Darren Jacques paid dividends when Mark Bright stretched out to touch down in the left-hand corner after 72 minutes, the touch judge perfectly positioned to confirm the score to referee Brendan Fitzmaurice. Hooks conversion from the touchline would have given him the club points scoring record, but the wind blew the attempt wide. In the Reds next attack Paul Thirlby ran on to gather a brilliant chip over the rushing defence by Mark Richards to touchdown near the posts. Hook converted to take the club record.
In injury time following a turnover on the half way line Rob Thirlby gathered the ball wide out on the left and in a brilliant swerving run ran past half a dozen defenders and touch down just to the right of the posts to complete his hat-trick. Hook converting to claim six out of seven shots at the posts on the day to take him to 259 points for the season in league games.
The modest, former Wales under-21 international, Hook reflected on setting a new club points scoring record "It was a great game and I forgot about the points scoring record as I concentrated on getting the win. It is nice to get the points scoring record as the boys have worked so hard all season".
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