IF Bude were looking to gain a psychological advantage over Wadebridge Camels ahead of their Cornwall Knockout Cup Semi-Final clash on Easter Bank Holiday Monday, they were sorely disappointed as they were put to the sword by their local rivals on Saturday at Bencoolen Meadow, only just preventing the half century of points, whilst themselves being denied the consolation of a solitary score, writes Paul Cottle.

It didn't make pretty watching for any home supporter, but the large contingent of Camels followers went home happy and there was some excellent running rugby and support play for any neutral to enjoy.

It wasn't all doom and gloom for the Seasiders, as their pack competed strongly in the set piece, with their front row of Matt Williams, Dave Risdon and Barry Sobey edging the scrums and their lineout functioning smoothly, whilst young No 8 Mark Parsons linked intelligently with his scrum half Ollie Mounce.

However, it was the all round game of Wadebridge that won the day, with their hooker Matt Ballard and the back row of Ben Collings, Sam Stone and Ian Boyling taking the plaudits.

In the opening half hour Bude held their visitors to a single score and that, on 13 minutes, only came about after they had shot themselves in the foot with a needless piece of backchat to the referee at a penalty award on their own 10 metre line. Marched back another 10 metres, this gave Wadebridge all the opportunity they needed and from a quick "tap and go" by scrum half Shaun Hawkey, the ball was spun right and outside centre Tom O'Donnell crossed for a well worked try. Full back Luke Davidson added the extras for a 7-0 lead.

Davidson added a try of his own in the 34th minute, after his back row had stolen a precious turn over at a tackle in midfield and then followed up with two well judged penalty kicks just before half time, as the home side earned the referee's displeasure for two offside offences.

Trailing by 18 points at the start of the second period, Bude badly needed a score to keep them in contention, but, on 44 minutes, a moment's hesitancy in defence allowed inside centre Dan Prout to stroll in under the posts, virtually opposed. Davidson again added the conversion and with half an hour remaining the Seasiders were staring down the barrel, as the full back kicked his third successful penalty of the afternoon, again for offside.

Outside centre Matt Trewin and full back Olly Denford tried to create some attacking momentum from deep, but the visitors' defence was rock solid and they could break the shackles.

In the 55th minute, following some excellent support play, second row Mark Grubb clocked up his side's fourth try of the afternoon, to take the lead to 33-0 and as the game moved into the final ten minutes, No 8 Boyling picked up and burst over, following a five metre scrum wide out on the right.

Fittingly, the Camels' skipper rounded off the scoring three minutes from time after another excellent piece of support play from the visitors, with Davidson again converting, to bring his personal tally for the afternoon to 20 points.

It was a salutary lesson for this Bude side and by general consensus it was the best all round performance by any visitor to Bencoolen Meadow this season, which keeps the pressure well and truly on league leaders Camborne, as the season moves into its final stages. With only one point separating the two sides and one automatic promotion place at stake, the final game on Camels' home soil a week on Saturday promises to be an absolute cracker.

For the Seasiders, it is likely to prove a difficulty week in training, as the coaches attempt to lift the morale of the side ahead of a busy Easter programme. A trip to third placed Kingsbridge beckons next Saturday, before the cup re-match on Easter Monday. It's not getting any easier.

Scorers — Bude: Nil. Wadebridge Camels: Ian Boyling (2), Tom O'Donnell, Dan Prout, Mark Grubb (tries), Luke Davidson (try, 3 conversions and 3 penalty goals).

Bude: Olly Denford, Timmy Green, Matt Trewin, Paul Williams, Darren Jasper, Andy Yates, Ollie Mounce, Matt Williams, Dave Risdon, Barry Sobey, Luke Dunkin, Paul Cholwill, Will Kingdon (Capt.), Dave Barnes, Joe Wilson, Mark Parsons. Replacements: Charlie Dicker, Kurt Blake and Mark Dennis.

Referee: Mr Neal Woodhead (Totnes – Devon RRS).