Luctonians 22 v 33 Redruth

Luctonians RFC v Redruth RFC
Saturday 15th October 2022 – Mortimer Park
Match Reporter – Geoff Vickress

Redruth Head Coach Louie Tonkin was a happy man after this tough win on the road at a resolute Luctonians, who are never easy to beat at Mortimer Park, “It wasn’t a pretty win but it is 5 points against a well-coached and well organised home side”, adding, “We want to be better and confident in looking to be the best in the league, and the result means we can travel home very happy.”

Defence was the highlight of the game as both sides defended well, often deep in their own red zones for long periods, Redruth at one point repelling seven Lucs’ mauls on their try line over a long period of play.

Lucs went ahead after 7minutes when the hard working Connor Deignan was driven over from close in, Louis Silver converting for a 7 point lead.

Redruth replied soon after, when Todd Prisk was also driven over from close quarters; Fraser Honey kicking the extras to level the scores (7-7). Ed Pascoe was shown yellow for the visitors after 24minutes for collapsing the maul but, despite both sides showing plenty of endeavour it wasn’t until the last play of the first half that Tommy Phillips from Redruth was driven over, again from a driving maul; Honey again kicking the conversion to give them a 7-14 lead that they were never to relinquish.

HALF TIME SCORE
Luctonians RFC 7 v 14 Redruth RFC

Lucs playing the second half with the wind at their backs started with a degree of confidence, and a Josh Watkins try deservedly brought them back into the match, following a good move involving James Wheeler and Louis Silver, to bring them within 2 points (12-14) .

But Redruth were not for rolling over, and against the run of play increased their lead when again they scored from a driving maul through front row Rich Brown; Honey again excellent from the tee for a 12-21 lead.  Lucs however were struggling to make their ball possession count and their only gain was a Tom Jones penalty on 61minutes (15-21).

The game changer and the nail in Lucs’ coffin was the 2 yellow cards: To Josh Watkins for bringing the player down who had blocked his clearance kick in his own 22 and, from the resulting line out maul, No.8 Aiden Cheshire also followed him to the touch line for a technical infringement.

Lucs now down to 13 couldn’t hold their opponents out, and Dean Bonds ran in almost unopposed on 66minutes (15-26), before full back Will Trewin also stole through on 73 minutes following a flowing Redruth move; Honey again converting for a 8 point tally and being Redruth’s pick of the players (15-33).

Lucs reduced the arrears when replacement scrum half Josh Nott intercepted with a couple of minutes to go; Tom Jones converting to give the home side a respectable score, but not enough to claim a losing bonus point (22-33).

Man of the match was Lucs’ hooker Ben Link, who throughout was a constant thorn to the Redruth’s attack, and despite their endeavours Lucs’ head coach, Ryan Watkins, believed they could have got more out of the game and the  score line probably didn’t reflect the end result.

Redruth will fancy their chances of winning the league and will be a difficult nut to crack for any opponent, whilst Lucs will be looking to bounce back and gain a result away next week at Loughborough Students.

FULL TIME SCORE
Luctonians RFC 22 v 33 Redruth RFC

SCORERS

Luctonians

Tries:  Deignan (7), Watkins (46), Nott (78)
Conv: Silver (8), Jones T (79)
Pens: Jones T (61)

Redruth

Tries: Prisk (14), Phillips (40), Brown (59), Bonds (66), Trewin (73)
Conv: Honey (15,41,61,74)

STAR MAN

Ben Link
Luctonians

TEAMS

Luctonians
Josh Watkins; Charlie Grimes; Rob Aikman; Lewis Parkes; James Wheeler; Tom Jones; Louis Silver : Connor Deignan; Ben Link; Joe White ©; Owien Harriott-Davis; Tom Smith; Sam Jones; Mat Hackley; Aiden Cheshire
Replacements: Brad Smith; Dan Powell; Will Pearson; Josh Nott; Rob Bengry

Redruth
Trewin; Thomas; Simmons; Bazalgette; Bonds; Honey; Hall : Phillips; Brown; Thompsett; Prisk; Pascoe; King; Williams; Stevens
Replacements: Barnes; Oliver; Fox; Rutter; Hattam

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