CAMBORNE await Bude in the semi-final of the Skinners Brewery Cornwall Knockout Cup after the Seasiders put Falmouth to the sword at the Recreational Ground last Saturday, chalking up eight tries, six conversions and a penalty goal to two unconverted tries, writes Paul Cottle.

All season long, Bude have struggled at or near the foot of the Western Counties West League and whilst their hosts have also had a difficult time of it one level down in the Cornwall & Devon League, there is clearly a gulf in standards between the two leagues. Whether this will change with the reorganisation of the leagues at the end of the season, which will see all leagues from South West One down to Cornwall & Devon increase from 12 to 14 teams and no relegation into the bargain is questionable, but apart from the shot at cup glory for the second successive season, if nothing else, this victory will surely improve the Seasiders' fragile confidence.

Bude opened brightly and took the attack to their hosts, with half backs Steve Yates and Ollie Rayner looking sharp. On four minutes, inside centre Paul Williams' excellent break should have resulted in the opening score, but despite a 3 to 1 overlap, white line fever got the better of him and he was hauled down a metre short.

However, his pack were in no mood for such generosity and with hooker Barry Lucas stealing a strike against the head at the resulting scrum, brother Matt Williams touched down a pushover try. Rayner slotted the conversion and five minutes later, outside centre Tim Green showed electric pace as he sped in from 50 metres, following a turnover in midfield. Rayner again added the extras and on 13 minutes bagged a three pointer, after the Falmouth threequarters were caught offside in front of their own posts.

Two minutes later and the game was all but over as a contest, as Yates made a lovely half break before releasing Paul Williams for this side's third try. Rayner was again on target and 24 points adrift the home side had a mountain to climb.

Some sides would have crumbled, but Falmouth battled gamely and for ten minutes had a sustained period of pressure from good all round team play, but the visitors' defence held strong. Just short of the half hour, normal service was resumed and after flanker Lee Weston had performed a classic opensider's burglary act at the breakdown, a lovely threequarter move saw full back Matt Trewin put right wing Olly Denford in for a try under the posts.

With half time fast approaching, the home side rallied again and following a smoothly worked lineout drill on the Bude 22, left wing Steve Rowe showed excellent pace to claim his side's first score. However, the Seasiders were in no mood to let up and on 37 minutes, Tim Green gathered a delightfully weighted chip ahead by Rayner to stroll in under the posts and on the break, flanker Dave Uglow showed excellent power and determination to drag two defenders over the line and touched down, following good work by Rayner and Paul Williams. Rayner converted both tries and a scoreline of 43-5 at the turnaround was little more than Bude deserved for their endeavours.

Early in the second period, with the stiffening breeze now favouring the home side, they had a chance to reduce the deficit in a foot race to the line between their speedy left wing Rowe and the more one paced Uglow, but the wily flanker had the last laugh as the referee spotted a hefty shove and the try was disallowed, amid a relieving penalty kick to touch.

A tangle of bodies on the hosts' five metre line, including the referee, after another fine break by Trewin and Denford saw Bude awarded an attacking scrum and No 8 Matt Williams showed fine control to touch down his second try of the afternoon, allowing Rayner to bring up the half century of points with his sixth successful kick of the afternoon.

The usual flood of second half replacements did little for the game's shape, but it did allow young South African prop Thabo Mitchell a breather, following an excellent debut alongside the more mature Barrys, Lucas and Sobey. Also Dave Uglow gave way on the flank to young breakaway John Richards, another promising youngster on debut.

Falmouth's loosehead prop Andy Palmer claimed his side's second try in the 65th minute, to give the scoreline an air of respectability, but on the final whistle, Paul Williams grounded his second and the Williams' family's fourth try of the afternoon, after the ever alert Yates had taken a quick penalty for offside on the hosts 22.

This Saturday sees Bude return to league action, with a difficult away trip to second placed Ivybridge, but with their two recent signings settling in nicely and their young side gathering experience by the week, they can surely travel with some hope after this confidence boosting victory.

Scorers — Falmouth: Steve Rowe, Andy Palmer (tries). Bude: Matt Williams (2), Tim Green (2), Paul Williams (2), Olly Denford, Dave Uglow (tries), Ollie Rayner (6 conversions and a penalty goal).

Bude: Matt Trewin (Nick Mobbs), Olly Denford, Tim Green, Paul Williams, Martin Green, Ollie Rayner, Steve Yates, Thabo Mitchell (Darren Sobey), Barry Lucas, Barry Sobey (capt), Will Kingdon, Joel Troke, Lee Weston Dave Uglow (John Richards) and Matt Williams.

Referee: Darren Becconsall (Penryn – Cornwall RRS)