Penryn 5 - Redruth Reserves 33

Penryn welcomed local rivals Redruth Reserves to a bright and breezy Memorial ground on Saturday for the first ever league match between the sides, writes Jonathan Plummer. 

Penryn were without the injured fly half Nathan Strick, Rob Banks taking his place. There was a first start of the season for Cornwall rugby league player George Mitchell on the Penryn wing.

The damage was done in first half for Penryn as Redruth scored four tries and 26 unanswered points.

Redruth, who had the breeze at their backs for the first half, kicked off playing towards the clubhouse end of the ground. There was an immediate blow for Penryn when prop Ryan Burley was forced off with a head injury, reserve prop Morgan Neo entering the fray after just two minutes.

Redruth opened the scoring on nine minutes. Penryn lost control of the ball on the halfway line and the ball was spun out to Reds wing Dean Bonds, who charged down the wing before offloading to Jacob Chapple, who scored in the left hand corner for an unconverted try. Redruth failed to extend their lead shortly afterwards when a penalty chance drifted wide.

Penryn now had a good spell of possession in the Redruth half but failed to take their chances despite a strong run from centre Sam Hitchens, who was dragged down just five metres short from the Reds line and Redruth managed to relieve the pressure when Penryn gave a penalty away.

Redruth got their second try when Penryn were down to 14 men, when Mitchell was receiving treatment. From a Reds lineout the ball was fed out to the midfield, where Rob Dempsey went in under the posts; Ashley Hosking converted to put Redruth 12 - nil ahead.

Penryn were reduced to 14 men on the half hour mark when Matt Carolyn was shown a yellow card for not rolling away from a ruck.

Penryn gifted Redruth the next two tries with interception scores. First Matt Blewett raced in from 40 metres and just minutes later second row Tom Jago leapt on to another miss placed pass and ran in from halfway, despite a last ditch tackle. Hosking converted both tries from in front the postst to give Redruth a 26 - nil lead.

Penryn did their best to reduce the deficit before the half time whistle with a couple of five metre scrums going close but strong Redruth defence held them out till half time.

Penryn came out with renewed vigour at the start of the second half but were dealt a massive blow just four minutes into the half when Peter Cockrell was sent off following a fracas with Redruth’s Fin Wolstencroft, who was later shown a yellow card for a technical infringement.

Despite being down to 14 men Penryn played their best rugby of the match with plenty of pressure in the Redruth 22. Following a line out from 30 metres hooker Chris Hellier broke down the left wing and he charged over in the corner for his fifth try of the season. The conversion was missed but at least the Borough were on the scoresheet.

Redruth completed the scoring with nine minutes to go after several phases of play in the Penryn 22, the home side eventually ran out of defenders with Dean Bonds running in under the posts. Hosking kicked his fourth conversion to bring the final score to 33 - 5 to Redruth.

Penryn will be left to rue a very poor first half although can take confidence in a strong second half showing while down to 14 men.

Penryn have a week off league action this Saturday before they welcome Bude to the Memorial ground on November 9. Redruth are away to Pirates Amateurs on the same day aiming for their fifth win a row.