REDINGENSIANS Rams put in a gutsy display but were ultimately beaten 10-8 at Redruth in a National Two South game played in abysmal conditions.

With the wind at their backs, the visitors began strongly, only for Redruth to weather the early onslaught.

The hosts then gained good field position in Rams’ 22, allowing a superb forward drive to register the opening score on eight minutes.

At first it seemed that referee Tony Woodthorpe was not going to award the try, but after consulting his assistant he raised his arm, flanker Shaun Buzza adjudged to have grounded the ball for the score. Fly-half James Huxtable kicked a fine conversion to make it 7-0.

However, Rams mounted a comeback towards the end of the first half. A penalty scored by Jacob Atkins was followed by a superb run down the right side-line and a resulting try by Chico U’Chong, his first for Rams.

Just before half-time was called Redruth were awarded with two penalty attempts, one of which was successfully landed by Huxtable.

This set the midway score at 10-8 to the home side, a result that would remain unchanged throughout the final 40 minutes.

The second half saw less variable play. Instead of the back-and-forth of the opening half, poor weather conditions encouraged both teams to keep the ball in hand and control the pitch yard-by-yard.

Redruth’s superb, rapid rucking helped the home side control play and keep the attack uncomfortably close to Rams’ try line. The visitors kept a solid, unbreakable defence and held off Redruth with big tackles coming from Antony Marris and Robbie Stapley. A final rally saw Rams reaching drop-kick distance with what could have been the winning points of the game, but they were unable to snatch a dramatic win. Redingensians face Chinnor at home on Saturday (2.30pm).