NATIONAL LEAGUE TWO (WEST)

Cinderford 22 Redruth 16

REDRUTH have been knocked off the top of the table and are down to fourth following a last-gasp defeat in the Forest of Dean on Saturday.

The Reds headed to Gloucestershire looking to bounce back from their defeat to high-flyers Hinckley the week before and made three changes to the starting line-up.

Recent signings from Camborne – back-rower Aden Brassington and full-back Harry Larkins – came in for lock Luke Hattam and Luke Johnson respectively, while Cornish Pirates loanee Finn Love was preferred to Noah Clifford on the right-wing.

After a scoreless opening few minutes, the Reds lost winger Jack Counter to a yellow card on 10 minutes, and were punished shortly after as Brendan Llewelyn crashed over. Joe Winfield missed the kick.

Fly-half Joe Cummins grabbed the Reds’ first points of the board with a penalty on 18 minutes, but within 60 seconds Cinderford were over the Cornish outfit’s try line again, this time Andrew Smyth doing the damage. Winfield knocked over the extras for 12-3.

The home side were forced into early subs, and Redruth got their first try shortly after the half-hour with prop Rohan Ewels crashing over for Cummins to reduce the arrears to just two.

Winfield slotted a penalty on 37 minutes, which Cummins did likewise 11 minutes after the break.

Every moment was now crucial. Cummins missed a three-pointer with 10 to play, but the Reds were handed a huge lifeline two minutes later as Jake Bailey was yellow-carded and Cummins made no mistake for 16-15.

Winfield’s mixed day continued as Cinderford appeared to be sliding to defeat, however a brilliant late try, finished off by Tom Samak decided a thriller.

REDRUTH: Larkins; Love, Simmons (capt), Gilbert, Counter; Cummins, Bray; Ewels, Cowan-Dickie, Gendall; Osborne, Prisk; Brassington, Symons, Wolstencroft. Replacements: Neill, Leigh, Hattam, Baragwanath, Clifford.

Tries: Ewels; Convs: Cummins; Pens: Cummins (3).