WADEBRIDGE Camels arrived at Bencoolen Meadow last Saturday for the season's finale against their local rivals with realistic prospects of a comfortable victory, which in turn would secure them second place in the league table to champions Cullompton and a place in the play-off against Chosen Hill Former Pupils, the runners-up in the Western Counties North League, with a place in South West Two West League next season at stake, writes Paul Cottle.

By the final whistle those prospects had been well and truly blown out of the water as the Seasiders produced a stunning performance which turned the league table on its head, so it's Ivybridge who finished runners-up, even though they went down 15-19 at home to the league champions in their final game.

True, Camels were disrupted by the loss of their influential centre Tom O'Donnell shortly before the half time break with a nasty head injury which resulted in the game being halted for over half an hour and the player being airlifted to hospital courtesy of the Devon Air Ambulance, but Bude simply didn't allow Wadebridge the time and space to get their pacy threequarter line moving and the final try tally of 3:1 in the home side's favour told its own story.

With skipper Barry Sobey and hooker Barry Lucas, fine servants of the game both for Bude and Launceston and local rugby in general, both playing their final games before retiring, their team-mates were keen to give them a fitting send-off. And in front of the one of the largest crowds at Bencoolen Meadow for many a long year, of around 500, swelled by an army of travelling Camels' supporters, they did just that, with right wing Olly Denford clinching victory for the hosts in a rousing grandstand finish as he swept over in the second minute of stoppage time, as the visitors ran out of numbers out wide.

Contests between these two longstanding North Cornish rivals are always feisty, with plenty of needle and it was clear from the opening exchanges that young Devon Society referee Mr David Philpott was going to have his work cut out to keep control. There was the odd flair-up, especially amongst the forwards, but in general his man management was excellent and only one yellow card was produced to Wadebridge skipper and second row Julian Wilce for hands in the ruck, more a case of cumulative misdemeanours by his side rather than the offence itself.

An early exchange of penalty goals by Bude's outside centre Ollie Rayner and Wadebridge's fly half Josh Taylor got the scoreboard ticking over, both for offside offences and on 19 minutes, Taylor was on target again as the home side were punished for hands in the ruck.

However, they re-grouped quickly and within four minutes they had nosed in front with a well crafted forward drive following a line out in the visitors 22. So often this season the Seasiders have seen their trademark driving maul pulled to the ground thanks to a misguided southern hemisphere inspired ELV (Experimental Law Variation), but this time they were too smart. They disengaged the power as the Camels' pack went to the turf, drove again and flanker Lee Weston touched down. Just reward for an excellent piece of skill from the Bude 8. However, that advantage was short lived and a third penalty goal from Taylor took his side back in front by the slenderest of margins.

Then came the unfortunate injury to O'Donnell and the enforced break, before the sides played out a subdued final five minutes of the half.

With the breeze now favouring Bude and playing towards their favourite clubhouse end for the final time this season, Rayner nudged the home side back in front 11-9 on 46 minutes, after Wilce had been sent to the touchline.

The Seasiders sensed this was their moment. They upped the pace, with half backs Steve and Andy Yates probing for openings around the fringes. On 58 minutes, Bude's pack drove deep into the visitors' 22, from the ensuing ruck the ball was quickly worked to the openside and full back Matt Trewin coming into the line at pace and with his customary power was unstoppable from 15 metres. Rayner's conversion attempt from an acute angle was judged to perfection, giving his side a nine point cushion at 18-9.

If Bude thought the visitors were about to roll over, they were in for a shock and virtually from the re-start strong running right wing Alisdair Maclennan crossed in the corner, pouncing on a momentary loss of concentration in the home defence. Anything Rayner could do, Taylor matched, as he pulled his side back within two points, with another fine kick from the touchline.

Bude responded with their pack leading the way with a series of punishing drives and second row Matt Williams and No 8 Dave Uglow prominent. They were desperately unlucky to be denied a try by centre Paul Williams as he squeezed over in the corner, only to be called back for a penalty offence by the visitors on the five metre line. The home side opted to chance their arm, ran the penalty, but made a complete hash of it. The ball landed in touch, thanks to a spilled forward pass and the scoring opportunity was gone.

Camels threw everything they had at the Seasiders as they searched in vain for the elusive score to snatch victory and with it a chance of promotion. Full back Dan Briskham charged upfield setting off alarm bells amongst the home supporters, his try scoring exploits in last year's County Cup final still fresh in the memory, but Bude's defence held firm. As the game slipped into stoppage time, it was the home side that was finishing the stronger and after yet another surging forward drive, a loose ball was swept up in midfield and Denford provided the coupe de grace, with Rayner adding the cherry on top for good measure.

It was a fitting way to end the season and with head coach Chris Perkins also standing down after two years in-charge, it was left to a delighted Club President John Boundy to present the Perkins Cup, kindly given by the retiring coach and to be competed for annually between the sides, to the victorious Bude skipper Sobey.

Scorers:

Bude: Lee Weston, Matt Trewin, Olly Denford (tries), Ollie Rayner (2 conversions and 2 penalty goals).

Wadebridge Camels: Alisdair Maclennan (try), Josh Taylor (conversion and 3 penalty goals)

Bude: Matt Trewin, Olly Denford, Ollie Rayner, Paul Williams, Mark Dennis (Martin Green), Andy Yates, Steve Yates, Thabo Mitchell, Barry Lucas, Barry Sobey (capt), Matt Williams, Tom David, Will Kingdon, Lee Weston and Dave Uglow. Replacements not used: John Hiscock and Ollie Mounce.

Referee: Mr David Philpott (Plymouth – Devon RRS).