Ahead of this Saturday's clash with Camborne in the semi-final of the Skinners Brewery Cornwall Knockout Cup and with a place in the final at stake against the winners of the other semi-final between St Ives and Truro, Bude had the perfect warm up as they claimed only their second league victory of the season, over the same opponents, at Bencoolen Meadow last Saturday, in a tense and at times thrilling encounter, writes Paul Cottle.

The 'Cherry and Whites' arrived brim full of confidence on the back of their 55 point hammering of third placed Kingsbridge the previous week, but were hit so hard in the first quarter by an avalanche of points from the Seasiders that they never really got going. They kept the ball too close to their pack, rather than trusting their lively looking threequarters and with Bude's defence in mean form, the hosts' victory was rather more comfortable than the scoreline suggests.

Indeed, it was a curious match, with all of Bude's points coming in the first 16 minutes, courtesy of three cracking tries. Then, after Camborne had reduced the deficit just prior to the break, with a converted try from a close forward drive, there was no further score and the second half petered out rather tamely, until a nerve jangling last hurrah from the visitors in stoppage time stirred the blood one final time.

By contrast, the game started with a bang and with barely a minute on the clock, sharp eyed fly half Ollie Rayner's cross field kick found Olly Denford in space and the full back turned on the gas to race in from 30 metres.

In the ninth minute Bude's threequarter line was at it again. This time, from a ruck on their own ten metre line, scrum half Steve Yates whipped the ball away quickly and fed it down the line, where outside centre Paul Williams dummied a pass to his outside man Tim Green and shot over, with the visitors looking decidedly shell shocked and all at sea. Rayner added the extras, to increase the Seasiders' lead to 12 points and the home supporters, used to starvation rations of late, were in raptures.

On 16 minutes, after Martin Green had been held close to the line down the right flank and his forwards had won good quick ball at the ensuing ruck, brother Tim, on the left wing, crossed in the opposite corner after loosehead prop Thabo Mitchell's excellent linking work in midfield. The young South African is rapidly making his mark at Bencoolen Meadow and oh how proud Mike (Sam) Martin, a founding member of the club, would have been of his grandson's performances.

As expected, the visitors hit back strongly, with fly half David Mankee orchestrating his side's effort behind the pack and full back Joe Parma and right wing Rob Floyd, in particular, looking dangerous.

However, Bude's defence was up for the challenge and clearly wasn't easily going to let a 17 point advantage slip. Indeed, on the half hour, Bude very nearly made it "game set and match" as they again broke from deep, but this time an over ambitious final pass just eluded the outstretched hands of Tim Green, with the try line begging.

With half time approaching, the visitors made one more attempt to peg back the scoreline and after a series of rucks and "pick and go" drives in Bude's five metre danger zone, No 8 Martin Woolcock, leading by example, crashed over from close range. Mankee converted and his side were back in contention, only ten points adrift.

Following the break, Camborne now had the strengthening breeze in their favour and with Bude's late fade common knowledge and an all too frequent occurrence, the game was set for a tense finale.

However, the visitors lost their way somewhat, concentrating almost exclusively on the Seasiders' apparent weakness in the pack, especially around the breakdown, rather than varying their game and trying their hand outwide. The home side were not going to give up without a fight and with their forwards revelling in the challenge, proved equal to the task and their defensive shield held firm.

This was typified with the game in stoppage time and Camborne hammering away at close range, following a penalty kick and line out on Bude's five metre line. At full stretch, with the old hands Will Kingdon, Barry Sobey and Dave Uglow leading the way, they held and then drove back the visitors' final last throw of the dice, won the ensuing scrum and Rayner cleared to touch. "Game, set and match" to the Seasiders and they can now travel "Down West" this coming Saturday for the re-match with confidence.

Scorers — Bude: Olly Denford, Paul Williams, Tim Green (Tries), Ollie Rayner (Conversion). Camborne: Martin Woolcock (Try), David Mankee (Conversion).

Bude: Olly Denford Martin Green (Ollie Mounce), Paul Williams, Andy Yates, Tim Green, Ollie Rayner, Steve Yates, Thabo Mitchell, Barry Lucas, Barry Sobey (capt), Will Kingdon, Mark Parsons (Joel Troke), John Richards (John Hiscock), Dave Uglow and Matt Williams.

Referee: Mr Simon Lord (Helston – Cornwall RRS)