Canterbury make it six on the spin after battle
CANTERBURY head coach Andy Pratt was delighted with the result against Redruth but maintained his side still have a lot to work on after the narrow success.
The home side took advantage of Redruth indiscipline to sneak a twopoint victory, their sixth in a row this season, as Aiden Moss produced a dazzling first-half score.
But despite the win, Pratt knows his team will have to improve their own discipline and defensive issues if they are to extend their winning run.
He said: “It was very tight. I am very pleased to beat Redruth, they’re one of the big players in the league.
“However, it was only towards the end when we really started to get on top.
“Both sides have had discipline issues. It has been a bit of a problem for us getting on the wrong end of the referee’s decisions.
“Defensively we need to work a little bit harder and come forward a little bit better.
“We need to manage the game better too. Even at the end, we got a stranglehold in the corner and we managed to turn the ball over somehow to give them that one last glimmer.
“As the result showed, we’re not the finished article yet and we never will be.”
Moss had crossed twice, five minutes into the game and five before half-time, as Canterbury led 15-13 at the break with Nielson Webber going over for the Reds.
The first Moss score came with a great sprint down the right, crossing from inside his own half, but Webber hit back four minutes later.
Ashley Hosking’s penalty put Redruth in front but that was matched by Oliver Best, before another try for
winger Moss, again showing his pace.
This time Best converted but Connor Gilbert hit back on the stroke of halftime for the visitors down the left.
Redruth then lost Sam Matavesi to the sin-bin for a high tackle but the home side could not take advantage, Hosking instead giving the Reds back the lead just before the hour with a penalty.
Best responded in kind with 15 minutes to go, and Shaun Buzza’s late yellow card was indicative of a frustrating afternoon for Redruth.
Winger May Bowden admitted their defence will have to improve going forwards.
He said: “The referee had a hard job. We felt we weren’t necessarily getting the feedback from him. That said, it is probably the same for both teams.
“I wouldn’t like to know what the penalty count was but I think that is the area that lost us the game.
“Cornwall is unfortunately in the middle of nowhere. We’ve got to take a coach everywhere and it does take a lot out of your legs.
“But we had a much better away record last year which is something we’re looking to rectify early doors.”