Launceston must win derby with Redruth - Mal Roberts

Roberts also plays at full-back for the Polson Bridge outfit

Launceston head coach Mal Roberts has described Saturday's Cornish derby with Redruth as a must-win game.

Victory for Launceston would see them close the gap on the Reds at the bottom of National One, as both sides fight against relegation.

Roberts told BBC Cornwall: "It's a must-win game and Redruth are no doubt building it up in the same way.

"With Redruth being only nine points away it's the perfect opportunity for us to come and claw back some points."

Launceston have been propping up the National One table all season as a result of being handed a 20-point deduction for going into voluntary liquidation in August.

The Polson Bridge outfit have managed to reduce that deficit to nine points, with Redruth now their closest rivals.

"I'd lie if I said it's just going to be another game," said Roberts. "It's pretty important for us.

"It's a local derby and although there's been a lot of hype built up around it and although it would be wrong to say that we'll just treat it as another game.

"We'll just go there with a job to do and that's to try and catch the side that's just above us in the league."

"One thing's for sure - when you go down to the Rec it's never an easy game," concluded Roberts.

Launceston took the spoils in the first Cornish derby of the season back in September, beating the Reds by 40-15 at Polson Bridge.