A Red tide rises with bonus-try on slaught
THREE tries in the final ten minutes of a pulsating encounter gave Redruth a bonuspoint win against a plucky Old Albanian side that will rue the fact they didn’t make more of playing down the slope in the first half.
Redruth director of rugby Nigel Hambly was pleased with the win but still feels he isn’t getting the best from his side.
“We won but for me we should always win at home, no matter who we are play- ing,” said Hambly. “Having said that Old Albanian gave us a good test, especially in the first half when I felt we were a little flat.
“We seem to play in patches, playing well and then falling off the pace and then coming good again. We lack consistency and it’s vexing for me because I can’t put my finger on it.
“We’re getting better and we can put together some great rugby but we can’t do it for a full 80.”
Despite Old Albanian pressure in the openning stages, it was Redruth who took an early lead thanks to a couple of penalties from Aaron Simmonds.
Old Albanian’s reply came in style as a move from their own 22 led to an unconverted try from Matt Deane in the corner.
Redruth scored their first try soon after from a catch-and-drive with skipper Richard Brown being driven over, Simmonds adding a fine conversion in the difficult wind.
The nip-and-tuck nature of the game continued and when Dan Watt kicked to the corner, the visitors created a fine try for Charlie Watson that was bettered by Watt.
The score remained 13-12 to Redruth at half-time and the third quarter stayed tight until Redruth finally
broke the deadlock following good work between Brad Howe and Dean Bonds, with the No.8 going over for Redruth’s second try.
Watt trimmed the home advantage with a penalty as the game went into the final quarter.
The Redruth bench came into play with the likes of Pale Nonu, Loma Kivalu and Jake Clemson making a difference. It was the latter who scored the Reds’ third try to put them two scores ahead.
Old Albanian pressed to get something from the game and a penalty chance was missed by the normally reliant Watt.
It was Redruth who finished the stronger with two breakaway tries in the final moments.
Nielson Webber snaffled a stray pass to gallop in from 35 meters and then another storming run by No.8 Howe was finished off by Rob Coote in Hellfire Corner to deflate OAs.
Old Albanian backs coach James Buckland was disappointed with the final outcome: “Credit to Redruth, they played well and took their chances.
“I felt we could have been two scores up at half-time but we spilled the ball and in the second half we couldn’t cope with their set-piece.”