REDRUTH 19 – 54 LUCS

REDS HAD NO ANSWER TO THE ONSLAUGHT

Redruth RFC vs Luctonians RFC
Saturday 22nd November 2025 – The Recreation Ground
Match Report by Geoff Vickress

Lucs’ first of two trips to Cornwall within three weeks saw them defeat Redruth comfortably 19-54. In what is always a difficult game at The Rec, with the notorious slope generally always favouring the home side, turned out to be a one-sided second half for the Black and Whites, this despite them receiving 3 yellow cards over the course of the game.

The support that travelled would have revelled in this performance, especially after refreshments at half time, when Lucs added 40 points to their tally. To see all their tries, please take yourself to Lucs Social media pages where you can view all the action.

Redruth had kept themselves in the game until the break, leading 16-14, but they had no answer to the onslaught that was to come. After leading through an early Dean Wills penalty (3-0), they conceded when Harry Whiteman dived through a mass of players to give Lucs their first score; Owen Randell converting for a 3-7 lead after 14 minutes.

Wills added his second penalty (6-7) on 27 minutes, but not before Lucs No8 (wearing 24) Jack Goodwin, received Lucs’ first yellow card for foul play. He was followed shortly after by Harry Whiteman, which had Lucs down to 13 players on the field. Redruth capitalised and Taylor Gendall touched down following a driving maul, Wills again converting to give the home side a 13-7 lead on 37 minutes.

One thought this might be half time score, but following excellent interplay from the restart, Man of the Match Frank Kelly and Caleb Montgomery put scrum half Owen Randell away to reduce the arrears, converting his own try for a 13-14 scoreline to the home side. But here was still time on the clock for Wills to knock over another penalty for Redruth right as the pea whistled in the referee’s mouth to see the home side lead 16-14 in what was a competitive first 40 minutes.

Half Time Score
Redruth RFC 16 – 14 Luctonians RFC

The first 10 minutes of the second half started very cat and mouse, with neither side taking any advantage. But what was to come was stirring enough for the Lucs faithful. Wills for Redruth knocked over another penalty after 51 minutes to push the home side further ahead (14-19) but it was the last they were to see of any lead.

Wing George Bennett was put away by Bryn Goodall, who had a superb second half, to dive over in the corner to bring the scores level from the restart (19-19), a difficult conversion being missed, but Bennett was seeing yellow straight after scoring when he was adjudged to have mistimed a tackle dangerously, Lucs again down on numbers on the grass.

But it didn’t seem to make any difference as they roared into life and gave a superb final 30 minutes of exciting and at times virtuoso rugby. Joe White went over from close in, Randell converting after 56 minutes (19-26) and, not long after, James Mear ran in another try after again excellent work from Bryn Goodall, converted try for a 19-33 lead.

Redruth now had no answer to Lucs’ power, and it was no surprise when Frank Kelly put Owien Harriott-Davis away, and at his marauding best ran through the home side’s defensive line just after the hour to increase the lead; Randell again converting (19-40).

Charlie Grimes stepped up next to score, following full back Giles Morell’s break into the Redruth danger zone again after good work across the line from Goodall and Joel Middleton, Goodall converting (19-47).

Could Lucs break the 50 point barrier in the remaining 10 minutes? Oh yes, they could, and they did so with Caleb Montgomery touching down late into the game, converted again by Goodall, to round of a superb Lucs performance on the road in deepest Cornwall 19-54.

Full Time Score
Redruth RFC 19 – 54 Luctonians RFC

Not many sides will come to Redruth and get as comprehensive a result as this one, and they were magnanimous in their praise for Lucs’ performance.

The boys go again in two weeks’ time, at home to the students from Loughborough, followed by another long road trip, this time back to Cornwall to play table-toppers Camborne.

It was a successful weekend for all three Luctonians senior men’s sides with Lucs Twos defeating Old Edwardians 14-7 at home, to consolidate their league position, with the Threes making a long journey at their level for a league fixture versus Leek 2nds, and coming away with hard fought 10-12 victory.

This week’s big fixture sees the Lucs 2ndXV versus Hereford 1stXV in the local derby, away at the riverside in the county capital.

Luctonians Man of the Match
Frank Kelly

You can view video of the Lucs try highlights here, and more pictures here.

Picture Credit – Mike Freeman, Redruth RFC