OLD PATESIANS 13pts REDRUTH 10pts

Going down for the eight time in the league this season, Redruth's dismal away form was very much in evidence at Dry Lease where they were narrowly beaten 13-10 by Old Patesians.

The Reds are now in eighth place in the league and next week North Walsham, who are second, visit the Recreation Ground.

With player/coach James Lancaster on the bench serving his three-week suspension, the Reds' supporters still travelled with high hopes, but it was not to be. Not being able to finish off promising moves was a problem, much of it due to a lack of experience with the unavailable lock forwards Andy Hawken and Simon O'Sullivan. The Reds started the match with Neil Corin and Nathan Pryor locking the scrum.

Corin was to excel in the line outs.

Midway through the half, the home side scored a try when prop James King powered over for the very tidy player Russell Nunn to convert.

Urged on in the miserable conditions, but with the advantage of the slope, from a good solid scrum, the Reds scored when the ebullient Sam Harrison made the chance for the old stager Neil Douch to ground the ball over the line. Scott Martin kicked the conversion to tie the scores.

Both teams kept trying to play good rugby, but the respective defences were watertight.

Every Reds player worked hard, ran well, made good tackles, in unfriendly conditions.

Thirlby and Bonds who fed off the good play of Richards and his forwards were worth further points.

Nunn, as accurate as ever, put his side ahead with his shot to the uprights after the Reds infringed.

But minutes later Martin tied the score with a penalty kick, a just reward for the Reds.

With hopes of a further score, the Reds players attempted to run the ball in the unfavorable conditions with several players going close to scoring a try.

When called upon to defend, the visiting players responded to the demands, but they were penalised on occasions.

But the final crucial score was a second penalty from the trusty boot of Nunn that gave Old Patesians their seventh league win.

Old Patesians: S Pollock, R Nunn, D Field, B Parker, J O'Brian, J Steckbeck, B Fenley (capt), J King, S Farley, O Smith, C Raymond, B Wilsdon, P Cockram, D Parry, R Miller.

Reps: G Philips, J King, C Ray J Pettigrew.

Redruth: I Hambly, L Vinnicombe, C Bonds, P Thirlby, S Martin, B Brown (capt), M Richards, N Douch, S Harrison, S Heard, N Corin, (rep J Lancaster), N Pryor, N Pascoe, J Navin, S Griffiths.

Reps: M Churcher, J Wright, J Geraty.

Referee: T Hall RFU Panel.