BUDE travelled for this friendly with only 13 players due to injuries or other commitments. The team that played, however, showed a fantastic spirit from the first whistle, writes Peter Goacher.

Bude pressured from the start, playing down the hill, and with the wind they managed to keep Saltash pinned in their half.

After ten minutes, a strong run from Luke Goacher gave Jago Cann the opportunity to break through for the try. The pack kept up the pressure with some great tackling, solid scrummaging (from Freddie Saxton and James Savage) and by Jimmy Baker winning a majority of the lineouts.

It was following a scrum that Matt Heywood (who had a decent game at scrum half) fed the ball to the backs with Duncan Tout getting the ball down in the corner. Adam Martin making the difficult conversion. A similar move saw Adam score a try a few minutes later. Saltash managed to reduce the deficit just before half time with a their No 15 making a 40 metre run to score under the posts giving an easy conversion.

The second half started with Bude giving away a couple of needless penalties, one of which Saltash converted. Bude regained their composure and, with Shane Lovejoy and Johna Spratley putting in a couple of massive tackles, frustrated any Saltash attacks. Saltash tried kicking for the corners but Jake Watts covered well at full back.

It was stalemate until Richie Herzog got the ball from the lineout to run down the blindside to score a good try. Saltash still kept pressuring but seemed surprised by the determination of the Bude players as Mike Garrett, Luke, Duncan and Jago all chased a long 22 drop-out, putting the full back under pressure and thereby giving the chance for Jago to score his second try.

Saltash were very sporting to 'lend' Bude one player in the first half and two in the second but I don't believe that they ever got to touch the ball!

Lots of names were mentioned for Man of the Match but it was agreed that the whole team deserved it.