REDRUTH slipped to a third successive defeat on Saturday as they came away from Cinderford without a bonus-point for their efforts.

The Reds, who headed to the Forest of Dean looking to shake off the disappointment of their late defeat to Barnstaple, got off to a dream start as winger Jack Counter crossed for an unconverted try inside a minute.

The hosts got on the scoreboard nine minutes in via fly-half Sonny Greenman’s penalty, but Redruth’s excellent opening salvo continued on 12 minutes with skipper Edd Pascoe dotting down. Fly-half Ethan Morgan slotted the extras.

In mizzly, foggy conditions, the hosts fought back as lock Ben Carpenter and inside-centre Tom Samak both powered over with Greenman converting both for a 17-12 lead after 28 minutes.

Morgan reduced the arrears to just two at the break with a penalty on the half-time whistle.

Redruth introduced Mawgan Osborne and Gabe Mead in place of Jarrod Hambly and Dan Goldsmith five minutes after the break and within four minutes the hosts extended their lead via Reilly Scriven’s unconverted try.

With half an hour to play and sitting 10 points adrift, the Cornishmen needed a response and brought on prop Craig Williams for Jess Tompsett.

But Cindeford are a tough nut to crack on home soil and grabbed their bonus-point score via No. 8 Jake Polledri as Greenman added the extras for 29-15.

Centre Jack Simmons set up an intriguing final quarter which Morgan added to reduce the lead to seven, before Greenman missed a penalty from the restart.

Greenman’s 73rd minute penalty were the final points of the afternoon as the Reds slipped to eighth, two points adrift of fourth-placed Hornets.

REDRUTH: Wills, Clifford, Simmons, James, Counter, Morgan, Bray; Gendall, Hambly, Tompsett; Goldsmith, Pascoe (capt); Triggs, Stevens, Rovery. Replacements (all used): Williams, Osborne, Mead, Wolstencroft, Earnshaw.