IT was ninth time lucky for Bude on Saturday, as they claimed their first point of the league season against fellow strugglers Tiverton at Bencoolen Meadow, writes Paul Cottle.

In an tense error strewn match, where both sides had chances to claim all the spoils but neither had the necessary nerve to go for the jugular, it was probably fittings that each had something to show for their efforts at the final whistle.

For the home side, this now lifts them one point clear of bottom side Withycombe, who lost 22-10 to previous basement club Weston Hornets, who are now level on points with Bude, but having started the season with a nine point deficit courtesy of disciplinary problems, they are now rapidly heading for mid-table respectability, so the Seasiders have it all to do if they are to follow suit.

On a typically dank late Autumn afternoon, the visitors started strongly and in the 17th minute after a forward drive was held up on the Seasiders' line, No 8 John Skeggs made no mistake from the resulting five metre scrum, as he picked up from the base and drove over. Full back Jimmy Atkins converted for a seven point lead and it was no less than Tiverton deserved for their efforts.

Bude responded with some excellent driving play by their forwards and had their chance to reduce the deficit on 27 minutes, after the visitors were penalised for coming in the side at a ruck, but full back Matt Trewin's kick was held up on the wind and blown wide.

Tiverton's seven lead remained at the break and with an ailing Barry Sobey retiring from the fray, resulting in wholesale positional changes in the pack, Bude were soon in trouble at set scrums and their chances looked less than rosy. With his pack under the severest of pressure and in retreat, No 8 Tom David was forced to perform heroics at the base of the scrum and somehow between him and scrum half Ollie Mounce they managed to produce a reasonable supply of ball for fly half Andy Yates to work with.

In the 50th minute, the home pack created a platform in the Tiverton 22 and after loosehead prop Matt Williams had made a powerful drive, No 8 David linked with fly half Yates, who scooted in for a well deserved try just to the left of the uprights. Full back Trewin added the extras to level the score at 7 apiece.

However, seven minutes later the Seasiders pressed the self destruct button as the visitors pressed for a score wide out on the right through their dominant pack. As the Tiverton eight sought to claim a pushover try from a five metre scrum, the Bude backrow illegally broke early and the referee had little option other than to award a penalty try under the posts, which left full back Atkins with the simplest of conversions.

Again seven points adrift, the home side responded positively and on the hour mark, after his pack had again created a good platform, loosehead prop Williams proved unstoppable from 10 metres. Trewin drew his side level from in front and with 20 minutes remaining, the game was in the balance.

Both sides had their chances to claim both points, with the Seasiders in the ascendency in the loose and forcing the visitors to concede a string of penalties. However, two attempts at the posts from full back Trewin failed to make their target, the second just inches wide of the upright, meant that with stoppage time looming the sides couldn't be separated. Tiverton had one final chance and forced a five metre scrum in the corner, but though it creaked and groaned, the home pack just about held firm and a relieving penalty kick took the ball to safety and a share of the spoils at the final whistle.

Scorers — Bude: Andy Yates (try), Matt Williams (try), Matt Trewin (2 conversions). Tiverton: John Skeggs (try), penalty try, Jimmy Atkins (2 conversions).

Bude: Matt Trewin, Olly Denford, Paul Williams, Tim Green, Ben Couch, Andy Yates, Ollie Mounce, Matt Williams, Barry Lucas, Barry Sobey (capt), Will Kingdon, Paul Weston, Dave Uglow, Martyn Fry, Tom David. Replacements: Dan Miles and Rob Uglow.

Referee: Mr Al Denham (Falmouth – Cornwall RRS).