11 tries at the Rec in another entertaining thriller
Redruth ran out winners on the day due to a commanding 2nd half performance where they dominated possession and position but were unable to regularly turn this dominance into sufficient points to ever feel comfortable against a Students side that was dangerous from any position on the pitch.
Before the match a minutes applause was held for Russell Grigg, Billy Orchard and Sireli Matavesi who all passed away recently.
All at Redruth RFC send condolences to their loved ones and of course wish Sam Matavesi well when he takes to the field in the World Cup quarter-final for Fiji against England.
Loughborough kicked off playing towards Hellfire corner with a moderate breeze on their back.
An initial incursion into the visitors 22 by Luke Hattam was held and a couple of soft penalties allowed the Students to force a line-out in Hellfire corner which they drove over for an unconverted try with only 4 min on the clock.
Redruth hit back quickly, a multi phase move led to a try after a clever kick-pass from Ethan Morgan, who had a fine game, found Frankie Nowell who finished well in the corner with Morgan adding the extras to put the Reds 7-5 ahead on 7 mins.
On 15 mins the Reds added another, a 50 yard kick from Morgan took play deep into the visitors territory and although a catch and drive was held a few pick-an-goes later Nowell was over from close in for a converted try.
14-5 against the elements the game was looking plain sailing for the Reds but the Students had other ideas.
On 22 mins another catch and drive try brought the Students back into the game and then a speculative up and under was completely missed by the Reds and the visitors ran in from half-way for a converted try.
Almost immediately the Reds crowd were stunned as the Students grabbed their 3rd try in just 6 mins as the impressive No.8 Mayell burst through the Reds line to go over under the posts.
14-24 to Loughborough on 26 mins. Another dangerous Loughborough attack near the Reds line was thwarted by a Jordan Gott interception but he was brought down in the visitors 22.
A few minutes later a penalty for a high tackle allowed the Reds to kick into the scoreboard corner, the resulting maul was brought down on the line and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try, with Peacock getting a yellow card for the offence.
On the stroke of half-time the Reds almost went ahead as prop forward Tyler Gendall burst clear on the 22, he seemed certain to score but the Students defender somehow managed to get himself between the ball and the ground to prevent the try.
[b]Half-time Redruth 21 - 24 Loughborough Students[/b]
The second half began in a similar fashion as the first, again soft penalties allowed Loughborough to gain field position and then a porous defence around the ruck saw the visitors scrum-half break the line and link with Hamid for a converted try on 43 mins.
Redruth were to dominate the remainder of the half and hit back quickly, one catch and drive try attempt was adjudged held -up but the next was unstoppable for an unconverted Luke Barnes try on 46 mins.
Redruth now had a frustrating period where they applied a lot of pressure but could not add to their tally, eventually though the dam broke with another catch and drive try this time for Mackenzie Oliver, Morgan added the extras to put the Reds ahead on 60 mins.
Again the Reds had the better of the remaining 20 mins but could not put the game to bed, tries were scotched out for being held up over the line, a marginal forward pass following a great backs move and for accidental offside as at a maul.
Finally to a great roar from the crowd a catch and drive try from Oliver, converted by Morgan with the last play of the game secured the points for the Reds. The league now takes a two week break for the World Cup with the Reds next fixture being Hornets way on 4th November.
[b]Redruth[/b] Tries: Nowell (2), Penalty, Barnes, Oliver (2). Conv: Morgan (4)
[b]Loughborough Students[/b] Tries: Crane, Isaacs, Mayell (2), Hamid Conv: Quinlan (3)
Referee: James Milliner Assistant Referees: Rob Lowe & Grant Mossford
Pirates Keen to Put Up a Good Performance
