Simmonds debut try crucial for Redruth
REDRUTH took the spoils in this actionpacked game which could have swung Taunton’s way during a tense finale that was packed with penalty tries.
Redruth head coach Pale Nonu was delighted that his young side had shown great maturity: “That was a cracking game of rugby with two sides looking to play an expansive game.
“We had to defend like Trojans early on as they came at us down the slope, we did well to hold them to just the three points. Credit to the boys, they played for each other and trusted the systems we put in place. In the second half we played some good rugby, scoring some good tries, so overall I was delighted with that performance.”
Taunton raced out of the blocks from the whistle, putting pressure on Redruth and earning a penalty kicked by Sam Brown.
The home defence proved up to the task, repelling the incessant Titans’ attacks. The siege was lifted with Redruth drawing level thanks to a Richie Kevern penalty.
Redruth had both Matt Gidlow and Craig Williams yellow-carded during the opening half-hour, managing to survive both sin-bins without conceding.
As half-time approached it was Taunton’s turn to lose a player to the bin – lock Milo Reynolds.
Redruth turned up the pressure with a string of penalties kicked to the corner, with Titans infringing once too often and referee Charles Gayther awarding the home side a penalty try.
Redruth made a great start to the second half with a try in the corner scored by Dean Bonds.
They further increased their lead after centres
Connor Gilbert and Jack Simmons put full-back Aaron Simmonds in for a try on his home debut, converted by Kevern.
Referee Gayther then trotted under the posts to award Taunton the first of two penalty tries in their favour, awarded during the final ten minutes.
Crucially Redruth made the game safe when James Tucker intercepted to coast in under the posts with Simmonds adding the extras.
A tense finale saw Ratu Vakalutukali go over for a his side’s third try, but crucially Brown missed the conversion before referee Gayther awarded Taunton a second penalty try at the death – leaving them with two bonus points.
Taunton’s head coach Tony Yapp was nevertheless happy to have picked up two points: “I think we played in the last ten how we wanted to play at the start.
“We retained the ball well and managed to do some good things. We were far too inaccurate early on, we had a good start and didn’t capitalise.
“Fair play to Redruth, they dug in and defended really well, later in the game when chances came their way they took them. Two points down here is never to be sneezed at.”