Redruth 18 Doncaster 11
Dire Doncaster Disappoint!
The final whistle brought to an end one of the most inept Doncaster performances seen in a competitive match for many years. With Pieter Muller electing to leave behind a number of first choice players, there appeared to be little cohesion in the side and no hint of the spirit seen in league games this season. If Doncaster thought the hosts who were easily beaten by Halifax the previous week would be easy meat, they found gutsy opponents who despite being ravaged by injury and suspensions were driven on by a 700 patriotic crowd in dreadful wet and windy conditions.
Early Doncaster pressure with the elements at their back brought a lead when John Benson’s penalty for a tackle infringement went over, but it was quickly matched by Mark Scrivener’s reply as the visitors crept offside. Play was mostly in the Reds’ half but Doncaster were short of ideas going forward and could only manage a Scott Plevey try from a driven line out maul. Errors kept giving Reds possession, twice reversing positions by over 50 metres; and it was almost comic when Jon Boden’s attempted chip over the defence was charged down by PJ Gidlow who gathered the loose ball to run 40 metres unopposed for the easiest of scores. Scrivener converted for a 10-8 home lead at the break.
Doncaster went from bad to worse with the elements in their faces and it was no surprise when Redruth increased the lead. Several mauls were repelled before the inevitable try was credited to James Mann. It was almost the hour before Doncaster got into the host’s ’22 and were rewarded with a penalty which Boden struck from 30 metres, but if there were any hopes of a Doncaster revival they were dashed by continually failing to find touch from penalties which presented Redruth with gifts of possession. The home lead edged up when Duncan Murray was penalised for not releasing at the tackle and Gavin Donald kicked the three points. The last quarter saw Doncaster trying to play catch up in awful conditions but with no penetration or ideas among the backs, and errors kept gifting ball back to the home side who were delighted to have taken a senior scalp under any conditions. Awful, just awful! The imminent return of influential captain and fly half Rob Liley after a pre season broken ankle was never more important to this team’s direction. He hopes to play at Orrell in next week’s 2nd XV match while the 1st XV return to league action at home v Newbury.
Redruth: M Churcher, L Vinnicombe, P Thirlby (T McBride 43), PJ Gidlow, N Pedley (S Heard 16), M Scrivener (G Donald 68), M Richards, D Jacques, M Harper, P Joyce (L Trivett 58), N Pascoe, D Cook, B Ayimba, J Hoskins, J Mann.
Doncaster: J Benson, J Rothwell, J VanDen Berg, D Murray, M Wood, J Bowden, L Lane (S Meyer 60), R List (S Bunting 48), S Plevey (S Boden 48), S Barretto (T Davies 75), G Kenworthy (D Cook 60), E Norris, D Montagu, R Peacey, O Cook (A Poskitt 75).
Referee: G. Aston-Jones (RFU) |
