TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS kept up the chase for the runners-up spot in National Two South with a victory and maximum points in Cornwall.
The visitors secured a rare victory at Redruth to extend their remarkable winning run to 11 games after an excellent second-half performance.
Redruth opened the scoring but TJs levelled with a Truman Sullivan try shortly afterwards. A penalty put the home side back in front.
Then Jimmy Stanford turned the ball over in the Redruth 22 and fed Matas Jurevicius, who linked with the backs to send Duncan Tout in for his first try. Will Robinson converted to give TJs a 8-12 lead.
The half ended poorly, though, as Jurevicius was yellow-carded and Redruth slotted a penalty to go in just a point behind at half-time.
Things got worse for TJs as they opened the second half by gifting Redruth an intercept try on the halfway line, though Robinson closed the gap with a penalty.
But a poor restart saw Redruth secure successive penalties to take them into the corner, from where they caught and drove over with some ease to lead 23-15.
As the game edged past the 60-minute mark Redruth were struggling to control their own ball and TJs were forcing them to kick away.
TJs were able to run it back and find some open spaces as Redruth tired. On the right Hugo Watson offloaded for Tout to crash over and Robinson converted to close to within a point.
The visitors soon scored again as the backs made ground and the forwards drove, and as the ball went right again Tout rounded off his hat-trick. Robinson converted and the bonus point was secured.
Robinson and scrum-half Edwards pulled the strings after that and another fine series of phased play saw TJ lineout ball driven to the line before Will Colderick went over. Robinson slotted a penalty at the death to add the finishing touch.
Rams were crowned champions after defeating Clifton, and second-placed Canterbury also won at home to Bury St Edmonds.
So with only two games remaining and Canterbury six points ahead in second place, TJs’ hopes of a play-off spot are dimming.
They now take on Clifton at The Slade on Saturday [April 13, kick-off 3pm].
