Sat 14 Feb 2026, 15:00
Hornets v Redruth 14.2.26
Hornets welcomed Redruth from Cornwall to the Nest on Valentines Day, but there was no love exchanged in this fierce battle that could of gone either way but Hornets showed their skill and commitment to beat the visitors by 5 tries to 4 and record their first ever victory against Redruth at this level and bagged 5 more valuable league points.
Redruth came to the Nest very confident as they inflicted Hornets' worst defeat of the season at their infamous ground winning 26 points to Nil way back in the middle of a storm in October. In the 7 previous games in the National League Hornets have been unable to get a win against the Cornish side.
Hornets at the Nest, are a different outfit and only Luctonians have gone away this season with a narrow victory so Hornets were confident they would turnover the visitors.
On the occasion of his 50th Cap young Josh Sheppard led the team out in front of a well fed and watered crowd due to the pre match lunch and hospitality hosted by James Carter, and the electric winger had a day to remember!
In such a tight league there was nothing but a couple of points between the two teams and that played out in the game.
Redruth asserted the first pressure and after 3 minutes were awarded a penalty in front of the posts to take the lead.0.3.
The visitors' forwards were playing well and had Hornets under pressure which led to a couple of penalties and they worked towards the hosts' line and after 11 minutes their no.8 was over and the conversion put a good lead in place and Hornets were struggling with the intensity. 0-10.
Hornets have a fantastic backline to back up the young set of forwards and when the pack secured good ball deep in Redruth's 22 the backs were launched and a superb cut out pass by Adam Francis found Josh Sheppard at full tilt and he was over for his and Hornets first of the afternoon and Jack Gapper's excellent conversion and the lead cut.7-10.
Redruth again attempted to attack but the midfield defence was sound until after 22 minutes the 10 point lead was restored for the visitors in a well taken try by their hooker following a lineout.7-17.
The next 12 minutes was an arm wrestle as both sides were looking for a breakthrough but thwarted by solid defence until the last 6 minutes of the half when Hornets grasped the nettle!
A lineout to Hornets perfectly executed and controlled and Arthur Davis was on hand to ground the ball and then nearly straight from the restart Hornets showed their ability to score in a flash and Sheppard was over again and the 2 conversions by Gapper and Hornets went in to the break with a lead which shell-shocked the visitors and they also received a yellow card in the process. HT 21-17.
The second half started as fierce as the first ended and Redruth with a man down set about controlling the forwards and they worked hard to get to Hornets line and when Sonny Haines was adjudged to of interfered illegally a penalty try to Redruth and a yellow to Haines evened up the numbers and they had regained the lead.21-24.
Again for the next 10 minutes both sides expressed their desire to win the game and both benches were emptied as the 'Finishers' were able to participate. Hornets were awarded a straight forward penalty kick at goal and Gapper duly converted it to bring the scores level and everything to play for with 27 minutes left on the clock. 24-24
Hornets inched forward and following a lineout after solid forwards play and the pack were beginning to get the better of the visitors and again Arthur Davis was able to finish the set piece and Hornets had the lead 31-24.
Redruth are a quality team and will not give up their unbeaten record without a fight and again managed to bring the scores level and game on with just 10 minutes left.31-31
Hornets though had other ideas and they set about an attack following a turnover on halfway Sheppard stole the ball and gifted the forwards a chance to attack and they did with power and pace as they moved through the gears and when the ball was shipped wide Sheppard was back in position to not only complete his hattrick but put Hornets into an unassailable lead with on 10 left on the clock.38-31.
Redruth put in a huge final effort to get back level but Hornets stood firm and their defence was superb and when the ball was stolen back on their own line Hornets could clear to allow the ref to blow his final whistle. Full Time Hornets 38 Redruth 31.
This was another outstanding game at the Nest where you certainly get a high quality entertaining game a faultless kicking display from Jack Gapper with 6 from 6 aided the victory and a quality hattrick by 'player of the match' Josh Sheppard and Hornets now with the bonus point win move up to 5th in the league as we now look to the final quarter of the season.
Next week Hornets travel to the Loughborough University Campus in another tough away fixture and some very mouthwatering fixtures on the horizon.
