FOR the third successive season Bude secured themselves a place in the semi-final of the Skinners Brewery sponsored Cornwall Knockout Cup, with a hard fought victory over North Cornwall rivals Newquay Hornets at Bencoolen Meadow on Sunday, by two tries and a conversion to an unconverted try, writes Paul Cottle.

ON a chilly overcast afternoon, it was an engrossing contest between two well matched sides, with plenty of action to interest the hardy supporters of both clubs.

Although Bude always appeared to have the edge, Newquay were a constant threat, especially their lively threequarters and the Seasiders' defence could never relax for one moment, even when they led by two scores with ten minutes remaining. The threat from the visitors was constant, with young full back Dan Pearce, son of former Bude fly half and coach Bill Pearce, who has searing pace and a superb eye for a gap, a real handful.

In fact, you had to feel some sympathy for the Hornets, being forced to play their second competitive game within 24 hours, after having run fifth placed Penryn close, but going down 13-5, in a re-arranged league match the previous afternoon. Bude, on the other hand, had the luxury of a rare Saturday off with their feet up in front of the television to watch the Six Nations Internationals. Unfortunately, with the rain and mud of December and the snow and ice of January causing havoc with the fixtures list and spare league weekends as scarce as snowflakes in the desert, Newquay had little option other than to accept a weekend double header, even if this particular weekend did favour the hosts.

The match was further disrupted by the early loss by Bude of hooker Dan Miles, with a knee injury and tighthead prop Barry Sobey, with the re-occurrence of an ankle injury and with only one front row replacement in Gareth Walker on the bench, uncontested scrums were ordered in the 26th minute and from then onwards the game lost a bit of edge up front.

After right wing Matt Trewin had failed with an early penalty attempt, Bude did take the lead on 30 minutes, when fly half Steve Yates put his inside centre Paul Williams through the slimmest of gaps in the Hornets defensive line, to touch down under the posts, following slick first phase possession from a lineout near the visitors 10 metre line. Trewin slotted the simplest of conversions for a 7-0 advantage at the break.

With the conditions heavy underfoot, it was fascinating to watch the contrasting methodology of the two sides, Bude offering a more direct approach, both up front and behind, whilst Newquay chose a rather more artistic, but higher risk option.

As the visitors struggled to contain the Seasiders' pack in the loose, with their back row of Dave Barnes, Dave Uglow and Lee Weston causing problems, they conceded yet another penalty in the 52nd minute, but Trewin kick struck the right hand upright and bounced away to safety; On another day the low success rate with the boot could have proved costly and is clearly something to which Bude's coaches will need to pay attention.

However, ten minutes later, the hosts all but made the game safe as their forwards won quick ruck ball in midfield and Yates' rapid feed send the ball down the line where outside centre Ben Couch put right wing Timmy Green in at the corner.

If the Seasiders thought they could relax with the game won, the Hornets had other ideas and after fly half Chevy Reed had initially threatened through the middle, right wing Rob McIntyre was fed outwide and his step, hand-off and pace off the mark left the hosts' defence chasing shadows and he raced in from 20 metres. Reed's conversion attempt slid past the uprights, but now only 7 points adrift and with ten minutes remaining, the visitors were back within touching distance.

Colt Jonathan (Jonna) Spratley replaced Dave Uglow on the flank for his first team debut and made an immediate favourable impression.

Both sides continued to attack, but the defences remained sound and at the final whistle it was the hosts who go forward to the semi-final, against as yet unknown opponents, with the match possibly to be played over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

This Saturday, Bude make the short trip across the county border to Okehampton, where their hosts will be full of confidence after their convincing 26-8 victory over promotion chasing Kingsbridge last Saturday. With the Seasiders having won the reverse fixture 39-30 in late October, it promises to be an intriguing afternoon.

Scorers — Bude: Paul Williams, Timmy Green (Tries), Matt Trewin (Conversion). Newquay Hornets: Rob McIntyre (Try).

Bude: Olly Denford (Dan Denton), Matt Trewin, Ben Couch, Paul Williams, Timmy Green, Steve Yates (Capt), Ollie Mounce, Matt Williams, Dan Miles (Gareth Walker), Barry Sobey (Thabo Mitchell), Will Kingdon, Paul Cholwill, Dave Barnes, Dave Uglow (Jonathan Spratley) and Lee Weston.

Referee: Mr Richard Pryor (Newquay – Cornwall RRS).