BUDE'S hopes of securing a place in a second successive Skinners Brewery Cornwall Knockout Cup Final were dashed last Saturday, as they were defeated in a high scoring and free flowing game at the Recreational Ground, by a Camborne side desperately keen to atone for their defeat in the league fixture at Bencoolen Meadow seven days previous, writes Paul Cottle.

If the "Cherry and Whites" were guilty of under estimating their opponents in the previous week's league match, they certainly showed the Seasiders due respect this time around and as a result, were considerably more dangerous in attack and a real handful for the Bude defence. In truth, Town's victory was rather more clear-cut than the scoreline suggests, but thanks to three well worked tries in the final quarter Bude returned home with their pride intact, if understandably disappointed at the final result.

Even before the first whistle, the Seasiders suffered a setback as their powerful full back Matt Trewin pulled-up in the warm up, with a re-occurrence of a thigh injury. His replacement was Martin Green on the right wing, with Olly Denford taking over the No 15 shirt. Perhaps it wasn't going to be Bude's day after all.

In the opening exchanges, the home side looked the more dangerous and on 11 minutes took the lead with a well worked try from their outside centre Alex Hinds, after the Bude defence ran short on numbers out wide. The visitors responded with a well struck 14th minute penalty goal into a stiff breeze from fly half Ollie Rayner, to cut the deficit to two points.

With the game flowing freely and both sides looking dangerous, Bude suffered a telling blow as skipper Barry Sobey, showing poor discipline, was needlessly consigned to the sin bin for a high tackle, after the referee had missed an illegal crossing move by the home side in midfield. One man short, the Seasiders' pack were unable to take the pressure and from a powerful drive, Camborne's young hooker Stuart Milliner went over from close range. Thankfully for Bude, Town's fly half David Mankee was having difficulty in finding his kicking range, as he failed, for the second time, to add the extras. Meanwhile, Rayner kept Bude in touch with a second successive penalty goal, after the hosts' forwards were caught with their hands in a ruck.

At this point, with half time approaching and only four points adrift and the elements in their favour in the second period, things were looking up for the visitors, but two crushing blows, either side of the break, took Camborne 18 points clear and virtually out of sight, courtesy of a brace of converted tries, the first from full back Joe Parma after the visitors' defence had failed to clear a speculative high kick and the second from No 8 Martin Woolcock, following forward pressure, both converted by Mankee.

A 53rd minute penalty goal from Mankee, after Bude were penalised for not releasing in the tackle and a drop goal from the same player six minutes later, took his side clear at 30-6 and the Seasiders had little left to play for other than pride. However, pride and commitment they showed in abundance and with the introduction of a wave of replacements from the bench, Bude's attacking prowess came to the fore.

On 65 minutes, after their pack had won good ruck ball in midfield, the Yates brothers, Steve and Andy, combined to put outside centre Paul Williams into space and he burst through to touch down to the left of the uprights. Rayner slotted the conversion, then with nine minutes remaining and the visitors again pressing hard, No 8 Matt Williams proved unstoppable from close range, after a well worked move.

At 30-18 down and eight minutes left to play, including stoppage time, was there to be a final twist in this pulsating and hard fought game? There was, but sadly for Bude, it came from a try by Camborne's full back Joe Parma, after he cut a delightful running line to the posts through the visitors' defence. With Mankee off the park, nursing a leg injury, Parma converted his own try, but still the Seasiders wouldn't lie down. Bude attacked one final time, and having switched with Rayner, Andy Yates now at fly half chipped over the on-rushing defence, before re-gathering and touching down to the right of the posts. Rayner successfully converted, but it was all too late and at the final whistle it was Camborne who go through to face St Ives in the Skinners Brewery sponsored Cornwall Knockout Cup Final at St Austell on Easter Monday.

This Saturday, Bude return to league action with a difficult away trip to mid-table Devonport Services, but having improved steadily in recent weeks, will be looking to claim another scalp, so as to increase the daylight between themselves and basement club Withycombe.

Scorers: Camborne: Joe Parma (2), Alex Hinds, Stuart Milliner, Martin Woolcock (tries), David Mankee (2 conversions, penalty goal and drop goal), Joe Parma (conversion). Bude: Paul Williams, Matt Williams, Andy Yates (tries), Ollie Rayner (2 conversions and 2 penalty goals).

Bude: Olly Denford Tim Green, Paul Williams, Andy Yates, Martin Green, Ollie Rayner, Steve Yates, Thabo Mitchell, Barry Lucas, Barry Sobey (Capt), Will Kingdon, John Hiscock, Dave Uglow, Lee Weston, Matt Williams. Replacements: Joel Troke, Tom David, Adam Williams, Mark Dennis and Ollie Mounce.

Referee: Mr Simon Lane (Exeter – Devon RRS).