WHILE the thronged hordes of spectators apricated on a pellucid Boxing Day afternoon the two teams cast off the after-effects of an abundance of Christmas fare to provide entertainment of an enterprise and variety not seen for many a year. They also played some quite decent rugby, writes Eric Gent.

The home team opened the scoring with only seven minutes on the clock when after a period of concerted pressure by the Bude forwards, well led by the battle scarred veteran Mini Fry (whose age combined with that of evergreen wing Derek Hart totalled more than that of the entire President's pack), prop forward Matt Williams plunged over the line for what was an unconverted try.

The President's XV responded in style with a dulcifluous passing movement involving dancing Danny Frost, centre Guy Dobson, resplendent in rosé coloured shorts redolent of his days in La Rochelle and a magically rejuvenated Rollo McGrath that sent scrum half Roland Nancekivell scooting over for a try that was converted by Dan Frost to give a two point lead to the President Boundy's men.

Bude were now on the back foot and could have been further behind had 'Bifter' managed to hang on to what should have been a scoring pass. Instead he treated the crowd to a protracted exhibition of dextrous juggling. The crowd was in uproar but the ball was on the floor.

Roland Nancekivell, heavily strapped but as ever light on his feet darted in for a try that extended the President's lead following good work from Josh Diamond and Andy Hutt. Why haven't we seen these two young guys on the field this season? Frost failed abjectly with his the conversion!

Bude levelled the scores just before half time when Shem Gent, clearly playing for the wrong team and wearing my boots, sent in powerhouse Paul Williams with a deft inside pass. We shall pass over the attempted conversion so as not to embarrass the kicker ... Olly Denford.

After the interval the President's men took command of the game to score a further two tries. Their forwards under the guidance of James Offside Comber dominated the ruck and maul situations and for a scratch team managed some excellent line-out possession through their tame antipodean known only as Tonka. The first try came from winger Robbie Walter, who as combustible as his charcoal, scorched in the corner after some excellent handling and back up play. The conversion was unsuccessful, again.

The second try and the last of the game was fittingly scored by the captain and Kauto Star of the President's XV Mark Dennis who galloped in for what was another well worked and executed try. It is not often that the kicker of the conversion ends up flat on his back as the ball dribbles sideways but ...

The final session of the match was less inspiring as fatigue brought on by the season's excesses took effect on all the players. Bude fought back well but were unable to muster sufficient cohesion to score and both sets of players and the spectators were happy when the admirable referee, Zarren Bell, blew the final whistle and allowed them all to escape to the warmth of the clubhouse and the tender mercies of Stu Bell and the bar staff.

The highlight of the tired latter stage of the game was when Bude scrum half, Ollie Mounce, too worn out he claimed to move his leg from the path of the on rushing flibbertigibbet of a scrum half John Wright, was banished to the sidelines for a deliberate trip with a flourish of a yellow card. It is rumoured he smiled with relief.

Bude: O Denford, D Hart, S Gent, P Williams, T Green, M Green, B Lucas, D Miles, M Williams, P Weston, J Hiscock, R Uglow, T Beckley, M Fry and O Mounce.

President's: S Henwood, C Dicker, C Ball, Raj Edwards, Tonka, J Stevens, R Bailey, J Comber, R Nancekivell, D Frost, Bifter, Guy Dobson, B Petit, R McGrath, M Dennis, J Diamond, Tug Wilson, R Cann, B Boundy, J Wright, R Walter and D Gregory.