Redruth …14pts Canterbury …10pts
REDRUTH staged a second-half revival to overturn a 10-0 halftime deficit after playing into the teeth of a gale.
Forwards coach Gareth Tedstone was delighted with his side's sixth win from seven starts.
“We battled to another win,” he said. “The elements played a big part today. We defended very well throughout against a big side who carried well and put us under pressure.
“I was pleased we kept them to 10-0 at half-time.
“That gave us a chance in the second half, though I knew we would have to be patient and use the conditions to our advantage.
“We did have some good fortune with our first try, but that's the way it goes at times.
“Our second try was well-worked and our patience paid off.”
Canterbury made a strong start with the wind at their backs.
Their big, heavy forwards made good ground into the Redruth 22.
They were rewarded with the opening try, scored by Tom Best following good work by Ricky Mackintosh on the wing, who did well to keep the ball alive.
Goal-kicking was to prove difficult in the conditions, with Canterbury fly-half Harvey Young having no luck.
The Reds finally gained some territory in the opposing 22 but chances went begging as they became too eager near the line. Instead, Canterbury increased their advantage with a second unconverted try scored just after the half-hour by full-back Aiden Moss. It followed good forward pressure near the Redruth line.
The score remained at 10-0 to the visitors up to half-time.
The breakthrough for Redruth had an element of good fortune.
A kick-ahead by full-back Aaron Simmonds appeared to rebound off a Canterbury player and into the arms of centre Jack Simmons, who ran 30 metres towards the line.
Tackled just short, he managed to stretch out his arm and score. Simmonds added the extras to make it game on.
Good play from scrumhalf Jack Oulton set up the move that eventually led to a powerful forward drive from Redruth.
It enabled replacement prop Jack Hodge to be driven over, with Simmonds once more on the money with the extras.
The drama didn't end there, though.
Canterbury, with two players in the bin, struggled as Redruth looked to make the game safe.
However, the Kent side went back to basics, camping under the Redruth posts for an age but couldn't get over despite the 12 minutes of time added on.
Canterbury's head coach Andy Pratt was naturally disappointed his side did not come away with more
“We should have turned around more than 10-0 up,” he said.
“In the second half, we lost control of the ball and that hurt us and we were made to pay for it.”
TEAMS
REDRUTH: Simmonds, Janes, Simmons, Gilbert, Cornish (Bonds 55), Tucker (Kevern 41), Oulton, Concu, Brown (Gidlow 57), Williams (Hodge 55), Pascoe, Clemson (Howe 57), Grubb, Stevens, Fox.
CANTERBURY: Moss, Mackintosh, Sterling, Best T, Grimes, Young (Murray 64), Braithwaite (Smart 55), Cooper (Green 67), Otto (Edwards 64), Kenny (Wake- Smith 55), Cadman, Corker, Whetton, King, Stevens.
REFEREE: Ben Russell
ATTENDANCE: 485
Star man
Jack Oulton – Redruth
