BUDE'S visit to the Duchy's capital ended in disappointment last Saturday, as they went down by three converted tries and a penalty goal to a converted try and a penalty goal on a damp and chilly early spring afternoon, writes Paul Cottle.

In truth, the result went as per the form book, with the eighth placed Seasiders coming up a little short against a high flying Truro side, sitting in fourth place, just out of the promotion places, who always seemed to have the edge in the loose and in proceedings out wide, although Bude did shade the set-piece, especially at scrum time.

The visitors sorely missed the wit and invention of skipper Steve Yates, who, sadly, was confirmed in the week as having snapped the Achilles tendon in his left leg against Tiverton in the previous game and who now faces a long recuperation and up to nine months out of the game. He will be a big loss, especially in the upcoming Cornwall Knockout Cup Semi-Final against old rivals Wadebridge Camels.

An early exchange of penalty goals between the home side's fly half Grant Thirlby and Bude's full back Olly Denford, both for offside offences. got the scoreboard ticking over and whilst the visitors were dominating the scrums, Truro's back row were causing all kinds of problems in the loose, with their flame haired openside Shaun Roseveare, seemingly living permanently on the edge of offside, a particular nuisance.

After stalemate for much of the half, with neither side able to take the game by the scruff of the neck and with half time fast approaching Truro finally went ahead in the 38th minute, when they won good clean ball at a ruck 30 metres out, broke up the right flank and then after they were held up just short, Roseveare peeled off a second ruck and touched down. Thirlby's conversion attempt from wide out was spot on and at half time the home side held a 10-3 lead.

Bude's threequarters attempted to make early inroads in the second period through fly half Paul Williams and inside centre Matt Trewin in particular, but the hosts' defence held firm.

On 50 minutes, Truro launched a "smash and grab" raid, which resulted in their second try and presented the visitors with a hill to climb, if they were to get back in the game. From a drop out on the visitors' 22, Truro's left wing Luke Trescothick gathered the ball and set off down his left touchline and ghosting past some pretty weak attempted tackles, crossed the line and dotted down, with Thirlby adding the extras.

Stern words from coach Jon Porter stung his side into action and with their pack leading the way, Bude finally created a period of pressure in the hosts' territory.

In the 64th minute, following a series of penalty awards and lineouts in the opposition 22, they drove a maul for the line and after illegal interference referee Mr Gibbons had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try under the posts. Denford added the extras and at 17-10 the visitors were back in contention.

However, Truro were in no mood to let the game slip and on 75 minutes, after Bude had won their own ball at a defensive scrum, scrum half Daniel Dunkin ripped it off his opposite number and sent in replacement hooker Tim Gay to make the game secure, with Thirlby converting for good measure.

This Saturday, Bude entertain Wadebridge Camels in their final home game of the league season. With Camels hot on the heels of league leaders Camborne and the game a dress rehearsal for the Cup Semi-Final on Easter Bank Holiday Monday, it promises to provide tasty entertainment for the Bencoolen Meadow faithful.

Scorers:

Truro: Shaun Roseveare, Luke Trescothick, Tim Gay (Tries), Grant Thirlby (3 Conversions and Penalty goal).

Bude: Penalty try, Olly Denford (Conversion and Penalty goal).

Bude: Olly Denford, Timmy Green, Phil Horton, Matt Trewin,Blaine Wickett (Kurt Blake), Paul Williams, Ollie Mounce, Matt Williams, Luke Dunkin, Barry Sobey, Will Kingdon (Capt.), Paul Cholwill, Dave Barnes, Joe Wilson and Lee Weston (Mark Parsons). Replacement not used: Ross Bailey.

Referee: Mr Richard Gibbons (Bodmin – Cornwall RRS).