Matavesi’s drive puts Redruth in the mood
Redruth ................ 46pts London IWG ........ 38pts
REDRUTH won a pulsating encounter played in excellent conditions.
Wild Geese will feel they could have got more from the game than just a tryscoring bonus point.
However, the Redruth pack were once again in superb form with Sam Matavesi putting in another all-action performance for the Reds.
Redruth head coach Pale Nonu was delighted his side had made it three wins on the trot.
“It was great to get the win, but in the last ten min- utes both sides were very loose,” he said.
“I felt we showed great character to come back after half-time.
“We were a little flat having conceded that try just on the whistle, having played well in the first half.
“Credit to us for coming back and taking the game by the scruff of the neck in the third quarter.”
Adam Hosking kicked a couple of early penalties for Redruth, but Alex Seers replied in kind for the visitors.
Good play from Craig Williams and Matavesi took play to the Wild Geese 22 before Rob Coote and Richard Brown exchanged passes for the scrum-half to score.
Hosking again had his kicking boots on with the first of five conversions.
Two further penalties from Seers kept Wild Geese in touch, before a powerful backs move led to a try from George Owens.
The extras from Seers left Wild Geese 17-13 up at half-time.
Redruth made a great start to the second half when, from a catch-anddrive, Ben Priddey went over.
Wild Geese lost Peter Hodgkinson to the bin for killing the ball, allowing Redruth to take full advantage when Matavesi
crossed for a try. Into the final quarter, it was ebb and flow. Matt Bowden profited from a poor clearance to score the bonus point try.
Wild Geese then scored their second try, again through Owen, who made the most of a hack to the line.
Great handling between forwards and backs saw Bowden go in for his second try of the game.
Reon Joseph then ran 60 metres like a knife through butter to score Wild Geese’s third try and give them a sniff of a bonus point.
Priddey, though, bagged his second try of the game following another catchand-drive from the Redruth pack. There was still time for Joseph to jink his way to the line for his second try and a bonus point for Wild Geese, Seers adding the conversion.
Wild Geese head coach Lee Starling was disappointed his side didn’t get more from the game.
“We expected a tough game and we weren’t disappointed,” he said.
“I knew they would be out to make a point after we won here last season.
“We scored some fine tries but were a bit soft today. We conceded too many penalties and made too many errors which allowed Redruth in.”