‘The football season is on us again, bringing with it endless hopes and fears for the long-suffering secretaries, savage joy and bitter disappointment for the spectators, and hard knocks and varying praise and blame for the players.’

This quote in the Cornish Echo in September 1904 remains relevant as we start a season which is a major milestone in the history of the Redruth club. We celebrate our 150th anniversary and a proud record as the Cornish club with the longest, continuous, documented history.

Last years promotions and relegations mean we will be welcoming former opponents Cinderford and Taunton Titans who have dropped from National 1 as well as Devonport Services who won promotion from SW Premier. Macclesfield, who we beat in that memorable play-off promotion place in 2005 will also be visitors to the ground after swapping places with Chester as our most northerly opponents. These changes see a reduction of 652 miles the team will travel as compared to last year.

This coming weekend Redruth make the relatively short journey to The Nest at Weston-super-Mare to play Hornets on their 4G pitch. Our hosts finished in 12th place in the table last season with eight wins during the campaign but were comfortably above the two relegated sides, Newport (Salop) and Dudley Kingswinford. Last season Redruth won a tight 38-36 encounter at the Nest on a blustery November day but the return match in February saw a fiercely fought, and somewhat extended game, end in a 17-all draw.

Hornets buzzed into life in 1962 as ‘Weston Hornets’ with roots in the original Weston-super-Mare club. Over the years they have climbed the league structure to become the leading rugby club in the area. They won promotion to National 2 at the end of the 2021-22 season. Our clubs have met four times in the league with three wins for the Reds and a draw. Led by DoR Jon Richardson and Head Coach Jack Gadd, they have had a busy pre-season with matches against Winscombe, Chew Valley, Weston and Barnstaple.

Kick-off: 1400

Ground: Hutton Moor Rd, Weston-super Mare. BS22 8LY. M5 Junction 21

Referee: Dan Parrott.
Assistant Referees: Martyn Sly & Fred Spong.

Team news here on Friday