Joe Burns had taken a knock at the aborted scrummage and Jordan McIntyre took the field as blood replacement. The visitors worked their way into The Raiders half and from a penalty kick to touch set up their favourite weapon, the catch and drive. The first drive was repulsed but after a series of pick and goes No.3, Blackburn, forced over for a try, which was converted by Thirlby. All square after eleven minutes. (7 – 7)

Two minutes later, as Joe Burns returned to the field, Ben Dudley was also forced to take a break to have a cut tended to, Jordan Burns acting as his temporary replacement. Dudley returned eight minutes later but was shortly forced to give way to Burns for another two minute break to clean away blood and don a scrum cap. The visitors were failing to gain their customary dominance in the set piece but these disruptions unsettled the home side and during this period they lost shape, giving away two kickable penalties which Thirlby converted. (7 – 13)

With the second return of Dudley, Worthing applied strong pressure in the Redruth twenty-two, forcing them to concede a penalty. Taking a leaf out of their opponents’ book, they took the opportunity to set up a series of drives and Rob Smith eventually grounded the ball for a try, converted by McLean. (14 – 13)

Play resumed but the visitors’ captain, Chris Fuca, took a knock which required treatment and he ultimately had to be replaced. Shortly afterwards Redruth kicked through but their winger failed to make good on the chase. Touch Judge Erasmus spoke to referee Kirby and Will Stutchbury received a Technical yellow card for impeding his opponent. So, penalty kick to touch, set up the catch and drive, first drive repulsed, series of pick and goes No.1, Jaques, forced over for a try. This time however, Thirlby was off target and half time saw The Raiders four points behind. (14 – 18)

The home side started the second half brightly and some slick rugby caught their opponents out twice in the first eight minutes forcing them to concede penalties, which McLean converted to put Worthing back in front and to lose their open side to the bin for slowing down the ball. (20 – 18)

At a ruck in front of The Raiders’ posts, a frank discussion of the laws resulted in Worthing prop Joe Burns and Redruth scrum half Greg Goodfellow being sent for early baths. Thirlby converted the resulting penalty to give the lead back to the visitors. (20 – 21)

Joe Govett had been injured at the ruck, so was replaced by Jordan Burns and Sam Hewick was the back row sacrifice to allow Jordan McIntyre to fill the front row vacancy. Twenty six minutes remaining, both sides down to fourteen men but the home side playing with a seven man scrum. The Raiders forced a turnover in the visitors half and from the scrum, centre Kiba Richards hit a great line at pace. Breaking the first tackle with speed and the second with strength he was through the defence and dotted down under the posts to give McLean a simple conversion. (27 – 21)

Sam Hewick on his way to scoring a try.

With eight against seven, the Cornishmen began to gain an advantage in the set piece which had eluded them thus far. The “go forward” this provided allowed them to press the home side in their own half. From a defensive lineout in their twenty-two, The Raiders drove well to thirty metres out but then conceded a penalty and found themselves facing the inevitable lineout in the corner. A series of mauls, rucks and pick and goes, punctuated by scrums and lineouts, eventually led to No. 1 Jacques forcing over for his second try in the right hand corner. With the conversion missed, Stutchbury and Farnes gave way to Arthur and Nielsen and Worthing held a one point lead with twelve minutes to play. (27 – 26)

The visitors threw the proverbial at the home line for the majority of that period, eschewing a kickable penalty in search of the win and a fourth try but the Worthing defence remained organised and solid. A last ditch attack broke down and Redruth were penalised, Ben Dudley checked with the referee and then slotted the ball into touch. Mr Kirby blew for no side and The Raiders celebrated their win.

Elsewhere, Clifton got a last gasp win at Taunton, an improving Barking went down 19 – 33 at home to Dings and Shelford came away from Bournemouth with the points. Southend’s long trip to Launceston saw them on the wrong end of a 38 – 6 score line and Chinnor pipped Lydney by a point in Gloucestershire. Next week’s opponents Hartpury won 41 – 7 at Canterbury. As for the league, their losing bonus point keeps Redruth one point (24) above The Raiders (23), who remain in fifth place and Henley had their week off but remain top (30).

Team: Cleveland Miles, Burns (Joe), Stutchbury, Barlow, Redmayne, Hewick, Smith, Govett, Dudley, Farnes, Sloan, Richards, Maslen, McLean. Subs: Pointing, Arthur, McIntyre, Burns (Jordan), Nielsen.