Stourbridge Saxons lose at Redruth

Redruth fly-half Aaron Penberthy grabbed the headlines with a perfect eight-from-eight 21 point return to steer his side past valiant Stourbridge Saxons in a thrilling match.

The 18-year-old fly-half kicked five penalties and three conversions, as his team claimed four vital points.

Stourbridge outscored their hosts by five tries to three and claimed both bonus points, but ultimately paid the price for missing too many important touches, and the concession of too many kickable penalties.

But their man of the match Ashley Smith got them off to a flyer, when he squeezed in the left corner for his maiden National One try, with only five minutes on the clock.

Penberthy kicked three fine penalties in the opening half hour, in response to a single Jamie Hearn strike.

However, Stourbridge consistently threatened with ball in hand, and soon claimed a second try, when full back Hearn's dazzling 60 metre burst left centre Charlie Hayter with an easy canter to the line.

Hearn converted, but Redruth racked up ten rapid unanswered points in six pre-interval minutes, to claim an advantage they never released.

A series of forward drives saw second row Luke Collins barge over, with Penberthy adding the conversion, then his fourth penalty, awarded when Rupert Cooper was sin-binned following a scuffle on the ground.

Turning to play into Hell Fire Corner, a one man advantage offered Redruth just the incentive they needed, and they piled on the pressure, to force a second converted close-range score through Damien Cook.

Nonetheless, the Saxons refused to concede defeat, and when Smith broke a weak midfield tackle, he raced away from the defence, before intelligently releasing Sam Baker, who finished in style.

But the relegation-threatened home side ended any thoughts of a Saxons comeback with another ten point salvo at the start of the final quarter.

Winger Sean Hawkey's diagonal burst took him into the left corner, and Penberthy converted, before adding another penalty, following a dangerous tackle.

The visitors continued to press, and when home front rowers Darren Jacques and Richard Brown both infringed in the 'red zone', Stour were left with a two man advantage through injury time.

This produced two more excellent tries - a fine finish from Hearn and a maiden effort from Ben Sparks following a driving lineout.