Home joy as Reds better Barum

By GEOFF SIBLEY

O Redcliffians.36

Barnstaple…….31

Old Redcliffians marked their first outing at Scotland Lane in three months with a narrow victory over Barnstaple.

Old Redcliffians played with the slope and the gusting wind in the first half and, after two five-metre scrums, captain Dan Thurston piled over, with Ash Groves converting.

Within five minutes, the Reds fashioned a second try thanks to bewildering passing. Francisco Souto scored and again Groves converted.

Then five minutes later, the third try came when John Cook ran a line in to give Groves the simplest of kicks for a 21-0 lead.

However, Barum did not lay down and, after sustained pressure, Jonathon Kelly broke the Reds line for an unconverted try.

From the restart, Reds bounced back when hooker Jalen Curry strode through for a try in the corner and Groves’

kick rebounded off the sticks.

The visitors got a try on the stroke of half-time, Kelly crossing for his second and Jacob Murphy converting.

The second half started with Barum scoring through Murphy and they crossed the whitewash again through replacement Samuel Roberts, Murphy converting.

The hosts then got in on the act, John Cook slicing through for his second to give Groves a simple conversion. Groves piled on another three points from a penalty before a try from William Topps, converted by Murphy, sealed two points for the