Taunton V Redruth

This was perhaps one of the most unusual games you will have seen at Veritas Park, a game where there was 30penalties conceded by both teams but only fifteen kicks in total and three of them were tap penalties and drives.  Such was the ferocity of the wind that it was far more reliable to keep the ball inhand than risk the vagaries of a kick. Redruth kicked off the ball crossed the ten-metre line but was then caught by the wind to blow it back into the hands of the encroaching Redruthplayers.  It was then held by Redruth for the next two and a half minutes before the Titans conceded the first of their penalties.  Redruth kicked to touch just making about5metres.  They won the ball from the lineout and pressed again for the next two minutes before knocking on just short of 5 minutes.  The Titans at last had the ball for the scrum which they won and back to Louie Sinclair behind his own line to kick for the clearance.  This should have gone a good distance with the wind behind him but that wind caught the ball and it came to a Redruth player who of course ran back at the Titans defence.  Eight minutes gone third penalty conceded by the Titans and Redruth opt for the scrum which they win and again keep possession.  It is only some superb by the Titans defence, which is keeping them out, and on several occasions driving them back.  Fourteen minutes and still the Titans have not had any possession but conceded their seventh penalty which resulted in a yellow card for the Titans.  Such was the strength of the Titans defence that Redruth did not seem to be able to score but with the extra man from the scrum from the penalty Redruth scored by centre San James with the conversion successful by Dean Wills.  From there start Redruth adopt the same tactics of possession in their own half and manage the situation well for the next 5-minutes but the Titans are relentless in their tackling and it is Redruth who conceded penalties giving the Titans possession.  The Titans now start to retain the ball and so frequently “man of the match” Ben Oliphant-Thompson was the first receiver making the carry and pumping his legs to make headway, always making the ball available for the next carrier.  It was Redruth who were now having to defend and starting to concede penalties.  The Titans adopted the same approach of opting for the scrum with Sam Prior picking up and driving at the Redruth opposition. With two minutes of the first half left the ball reaches Rocky Prowse who makes a half break and over from his opposite wing is Oscar Kolowski who takes the pass and races away to score the try. Louie’s kick is caught by the wind and steers past the posts and so the half finishes with Redruth having a two-point lead.

The second half started in a similar fashion as the first except it was the Titans who had the possession and Redruth only gaining possession from a Titans knock on and then winning the scrum.  The game was brought to life with just 10 minutes left when Louie made a decisive break from his own half before handing on to Charlie Wright who broke the tackle on the  Redruth 10-metre line and was away.  The Redruth defence hauled him down just inches short of the try line but prop Will Vaughan was able to come up with the ball from the ruck and score the try to put the Titans in the lead.  From the restart the Titans kept possession and worked their way forward but conceded a penalty and which Redruth attempted to covert but missed.  From the twenty-two drop out Redruth attacked and again the Titans conceded the penalty and this time Redruth converted to level the scores. From the kick off the Titans gain possession and camp on the Redruth line.  Three penalties Redruth concede in defending the last resulting in a yellow card. Still the Titans tap and drive but concede the penalty.  Redruth kick to touch and the final whistle goes resulting in a draw.

The final result shows fine margins change games.  There were many positives and great credit should be given to both teams who gave all in such challenging conditions.

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