WITH injuries beginning to take their toll and their pack, in particular, having a rather patched-up look about it, Bude had the misfortune last Saturday to run into an Okehampton side rapidly hitting top form, after a patchy first half of the season, writes Paul Cottle.

The Seasiders were on the wrong end of a six try to nil hiding and after the poorly positioned referee had disallowed what appeared to be a perfectly good try by centre Paul Williams midway through the second half there was little surprise that they failed to trouble the scorers on a bitterly cold afternoon at The Showfield.

If there were any positives for coaches Jon Porter and Seth Gent to take out of this game it was the performances of some of the younger players, with young Colt Joe Wilson on the flank outstanding and Mark Parsons, a half time replacement in the second row, featuring prominently. Matt Trewin and Dan Denton on either wing also ran hard in a losing cause, but both need to add a little subtlety to their game if they are to trouble well organised defences.

Okehampton, on the other hand, had a strong well marshalled pack, built around former Cornish All Black Ian Langbridge at tighthead prop, that dominated in both the set piece and the loose and with a lively pair at half back and a powerful set of three quarters that made light of the mud and slippery conditions it was clear to see how they caused a minor upset and turned over promotion favourites Kingsbridge 26-8 the previous week.

The home side dominated the early exchanges, with Bude's makeshift pack under pressure and in the 11th minute following an attacking scrum on the visitors' 22, Oke's scrum half Richard Friend shot around the blindside and crossed for a well worked try, with his half back partner Karl Poynton adding the conversion.

Five minutes later Okehampton doubled their lead when from another good attacking scrum, the ball was shipped quickly down the line and right wing Rob Fishleigh dotted down 15 metres in from touch, with fly half Poynton again adding the extras.

Two tries from second row Steve Alford, inside the first half hour, after his pack had again set up good attacking positions, the second of which was converted by Poynton, virtually killed the game as a contest, with the hosts now leading 26-0.

Bude did rally in the second quarter with centres Paul Williams and Ben Couch running strongly in midfield and their back row of Wilson and the two Daves, Barnes and Uglow, working hard in the loose, but Oke's defence was sound and the visitors couldn't break the shackles.

The sides turned around at half time with Okehampton still leading by 26 clear points and within five minutes of the re-start scrum half Friend had shot over for his second try of the afternoon, as the visitors' defence was over-run, with the injured Couch lying prostrate on the turf and Poynton again adding the extras. With Couch unable to continue, Trewin moved into the centre and replacement Johna Spratley coming onto the right wing.

It was perhaps a sign of the character of Bude's young side that with everything seemingly going against them, they now had their best period of the game, with the hosts' pack for once forced onto the defensive and the odd attacking foray out wide.

From one such attack in the 60th minute Williams was unluckily denied a consolation score after his pack had driven for the line, but with ten minutes remaining Oke's right wing Fishleigh rounded off a thoroughly satisfying afternoon for the home side, as he clocked up his second and his side's sixth try to give the final scoreline 38-0 in Okehampton's favour.

This Saturday sees fifth placed Penryn as the visitors to Bencoolen Meadow and the Seasiders will be keen to erase this loss from the memory, as well as the heavy defeat 34-7 in the reverse fixture last October.

Scorers — Okehampton: Richard Friend (2 Tries), Rob Fishleigh (2 Tries), Steve Alford (2 Tries), Karl Poynton (4 Conversions). Bude: Nil.

Bude: Olly Denford, Matt Trewin, Ben Couch (Jonathan Spratley), Paul Williams, Dan Denton, Steve Yates (Capt), Ollie Mounce, Matt Williams, Barry Lucas, Paul Cholwill (Gareth Walker), Will Kingdon, Thabo Mitchell (Mark Parsons), Joe Wilson, Dave Barnes and Dave Uglow.

Referee: Mr James Grant (Exmouth – Devon RRS)

Bude now know the identity of their opponents in the Semi-Final of the Skinners Brewery Cornwall Knockout Cup competition.

They have been drawn away against Wadebridge Camels, who were comfortable victors and possibly surprisingly so over Western Counties West League leaders Camborne 40-16 at the Recreation Ground last Sunday. With the Camels having triumphed in the Final against the Seasiders two years ago and a place in the Final at stake, there is every incentive for Bude to turn the tables on their North Cornwall rivals this time.

The other Semi-Final will see either St Ives or Falmouth entertain the winners of Truro and St Austell, with the matches to be played by Easter Monday April 5. The outstanding Quarter-Final ties are due to be played on Saturday February 27.