A dramatic drop goal with the last kick of the match by Redruth fly half Aaron Penberthy consigned Park to defeat in a match they mostly dominated in terms of possession and territory. A young, enthusiastic but – in all honesty - limited home side capitalised on too many Park errors to gain their first win of the season.

It all started brightly enough for Park, who were all over Redruth in the early stages (though being shoved backwards at two early scrummages was perhaps a sign that this would be no cakewalk). The three points from a 9th minute Richard Davies penalty was all Park could muster for their superiority, and this was soon cancelled out by Penberthy’s boot in Redruth’s first real attack three minutes later.

The visitors’ cause was not helped when prop Ollie Mines had to be replaced early in the match, but Park still held the upper hand when Redruth winger Vinnicombe chased down a kick from his teenage full-back, Nowell, who ran in support to receive a pass to go over in the corner. It was a fine try to score, but not such a good one to concede.

Park soon pegged them back with a good try from a move up the right, started by Nev Edwards and finished by an electrifying burst from Ollie Lyndsay-Hague to score in the corner for 8-8.

Almost from kick off Park conceded a penalty, which was hoofed to the corner. The home pack began to look dangerous for the first time with a series of pick-and-drives for number 8 Mark Bright to force his way over, Penberthy adding the conversion for 15-8.

Playing up the slope, Park continued to have more of the play. A high tackle saw Davies knock a penalty towards the corner, but Redruth successfully defended. A great run up the left by Joe Burton brought a scrum close to the line which the visitors could not exploit. Given a penalty close to half way on 32 minutes, Davies reduced the arrears. A good attack through John Rudd and Jonah Holmes nearly bore fruit but for a poor refereeing decision.

Turning round 11-15 down, with the advantage of the slope in the second half, Park seemed to have no reason to be unduly worried. They were immediately on the attack and Lyndsay-Hague nearly went in but for a forward pass. Another good attempt ended in a knock on. Holmes was sniping effectively around the fringes, and it came as a surprise when he was replaced. Further chances were spurned with a line-out throw being not straight, and then the visitors were penalised at an attacking scrum. Park gained a penalty in front of the posts 24 metres out but that, too, was spurned.

Eventually the pressure told and a great Park attack saw Ollie Lyndsay-Hague gain his second try to put his team ahead at 16-15, a good conversion attempt hitting the post. But Park were in generous mood, almost immediately conceding a soft penalty to allow Penberthy to put his team back in front, against the run of play.

Such was Park’s degree of dominance that a score seemed inevitable, Strong looking particularly dangerous. But they somehow conspired to present it to their hosts when a soft turn-over saw Penberthy send hooker Gidlow away to score on the breakaway for 23-16. A breakaway try by a hooker probably sums up Park’s afternoon.

Park continued to do the attacking but could not fashion a way around the defence and, lacking the heavy artillery of players like Will Collier and Amo Tauialo, never looked like doing it by the muscular approach. With five minutes to go Park were awarded a penalty which allowed Davies to reduce the arrears to 19-23. Ratcheting up the pressure, right on 40 minutes Chris Lewis got over close to the corner to apparently seal a Park win by a single point.

But there was another act yet to the drama. Park needed only to field the ball from kick off and then run down any added time in much the way they had been running the ball at Redruth for just about all of the second half. If you had to nominate a Park player to make a safe catch under a high ball it would probably be Howard Quigley but cruelly, to his obvious despair, the catch spilled forwards. Redruth launched a final all-out attack through their pack, aware that the visitors could not afford to concede a penalty. Park looked to be defending well until the home forwards cleverly made the space for the crucial pass back to the fly half, whose successful kick brought the final whistle.

Several key players were unavailable for this match, but it was still a well below par performance against opposition who were game to a man but no great shakes. It looked as if Redruth simply wanted it more, which is not to say that Park were not trying: they can and will play much better. They need to.

Park: Lindsay-Hague; Strong, Edwards, Lewis, Rudd; Davies; Holmes (Baxter); Huggett, Gotting, Mines (McDonald, Daw); Quigley, Pape (Underwood); Burton, Barratt, Lock.

Sub not used: Parsons Park scorers: Lyndsey-Hague (2T), Lewis (T), Davies (3P)