Redruth make history with first league win at Launceston

Cornish All Blacks  9  Redruth 10

Redruth finally laid to rest their bogey of having never won at Polson Bridge in the leagues in a game that will not live long in the memories of the neutral spectator, but that will go down in Redruth folklore, reports Bill Hooper.

See a picture gallery of Cornish All Blacks v Redruth

The game was a fractious affair with far too much whistle from referee Thomas Foley whose interpretation at scrum time left both packs totally bemused. 

The Cornish All Blacks' cause was not helped having to play four minutes with just 13  men when lock Ben Hilton and then prop Neil Bayliss found themselves yellow carded in quick succession, indiscipline once again haunted their performance. 

For Redruth another massive game from prop forward Darren Jacques, powerful in the scrum and a rampaging bull in the loose as he made some big carries.

Redruth having enjoyed the lion's share of territory and possession during the first half must have wondered how they were only 10-3 up at the break.

Having dominated from the kick-off, Redruth's first points didn't arrive until the 12 minute when Paul Thirlby kicked a penalty.

Redruth eventually increased their lead just as Ben Hilton returned from the sin-bin, the Redruth scrum drove for the line with No.8 Tom Duncan looking set to score his sixteenth try of the season, but Launceston infringed leaving the referee with little choice but to award a penalty-try, Thirlby added the conversion for 10-0 on the half-hour mark.

It was Redruth's turn to find themselves down to fourteen men as Duncan trooped off to the naughty step. 

Full-back Kieron Lewitt kicked his sides first points of the afternoon to leave the half-time score 10-3 to the Reds.

In the second half Launceston came right back into the game with scrum-half Richard Friend pulling the strings. Lewitt kicked two further penalties to bring the All Blacks right back into the game. 

The large Polson crowd sensing that their side could pull a win out of the bag. 

Aaron Penberthy who had come on at half-time, though missing with a couple of penalty chances was on hand to make a vital tackle on All Blacks winger Richard Bright who looked set to score the winning try following a great move started by replacement Lloyd Duke and supported by No.8 Josh Lord.

However, it was Redruth who held on to record an historic win and maintain their push towards the top of the table.   

Cornish All Blacks 9 pts

Penalties – Lewitt (3)

Yellow Cards – Hilton (14), Bayliss (20)

Redruth 10 pts

Penalty-Try, Penalty – Thirlby, Conversion – Thirlby, 

Yellow Card – Duncan (33)

Cornish All Blacks: K Lewitt, R Bright, L Paterson, N Webber (M Kneebone 66), L Yeo, J Murphy, R Friend; M Rice (T Mathias 50), F Bullit, N Bayliss, BJ Chapman (L Duke 64), B Hilton, J Tripcony (T Mathias 25-30), T Rawlings (Capt), J Lord

Replacements (not used):  A Meredith, D Hales

Redruth: M Westren (A Penberthy 40), T Notman, C Bonds, N Simmons, F Kellythorn, P Thirlby. G Goodfellow; D Jacques, R Brown, C Williams, D Cook L Collins, C Fuca (Capt), B Priddey (O Hambly 63), T Duncan

Replacements (not used): D Job, N Turner, D Bonds

Referee: Mr T Foley (RFU)

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