WITH Bencoolen Meadow looking resplendent bathed in bright February sun Bude's faithful spectators, already in cheerful mood thanks to the hospitality of the game's sponsors, the Penbode Veterinary Group, anticipated a free flowing open game, writes Eric Gent.

They were not to be disappointed; although initially all of the free flowing rugby came from the visitors as Bude looked as if they were still suffering a hang-over from the previous week's crushing defeat at Okehampton.

With their first possession Penryn broke the Bude defensive line when centre Matt Symons cut through some feeble tackling to create a chance for full back Alex Stuthridge to put his winger in for a try. He chose to go for glory himself but was flattened in a strong tackle by the covering Bude flanker Joe Wilson.

Minutes later Penryn almost succeeded in driving a maul over the Bude line but stout defence caused them to lose the ball in their final surge and Bude managed to clear their lines from the resulting scrimmage.

However, this respite was short-lived and Penryn took a deserved lead, albeit with a scruffy looking try, when after several abortive Bude attempts to secure a loose ball from a Penryn kick ahead winger Darren Pellow touched down. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

Fifteen minutes into the game Penryn's lack of discipline saw them marched back 20 metres by referee Freestone after the award of a penalty on their ten metre line was disputed too vociferously. Steve Yates kicked the penalty into the Ceres Court corner and the Bude forwards willingly accepted the opportunity to huff and puff their way over for a try. Mark Parsons took the plaudits for his first Western Counties try. The scores remained deadlocked as Matt Trewin's conversion sailed ingloriously wide of the posts.

Bude, ever the generous host, allowed Penryn to immediately restore their lead when they made a mess of the collection of the Penryn kick off. With the resultant possession Penryn spread the ball wide and winger Mike Slater was left free to scamper over for a try which was converted by Rob Banks.

Penryn then seemed to gain the upper hand for a while helped by the malfunctioning Bude lineout and some weak first-up tackling.

The pressure was relieved by a fine run from his own 22 from full back Ollie Denford. He was finally tackled well into the Penryn half but Bude now had a territorial toe-hold from which after strong work by the forwards, bullocking runs from Luke Dunkin and Barry Sobey to the fore, they were awarded a penalty right in front of the Penryn posts. With the spectators' cries of "Kick it" and "Take the points" ringing in his ear captain Steve Yates decided that safety first was not for Bude and opted for the tap and go. The groans from the side lines were silenced when prop Matt Williams burrowed his way over the line. This time Matt Trewin's conversion sailed imperiously through the posts and Bude were on level terms with only five minutes of the first half remaining.

It was a long, long five minutes; too long for Bude to see through and when a high kick by Penryn's Peter Gregory was allowed to bounce by a hesitant defence, and following several valiant but unsuccessful attempts to fall on the loose ball Penryn were awarded a penalty in front of the Bude posts. In this series of ineffectual endeavours to secure the ball Bude centre Ben Couch was injured and was replaced by debutant Aka Martin. Following Bude's example Penryn eschewed the easy kick at goal and opted for a scrum. Bude resisted this attack but from the following scrum Penryn number eight George Randlesome barged his way over for a try that was converted by Rob Banks.

After the five try bonanza of the first half the initial exchanges of the second half were largely confined to the area between the two ten metre lines as neither side could seem to put to together anything that resembled cohesive rugby.

This was all changed when after 15 minutes Bude prop Ursain Sobey bolted through the Penryn defence on a 30 metre gallop would-be tacklers scattered in his wake like fallen autumn leaves.

Inspired by this Bude stormed the Penryn line. Steve Yates dashed around the blind side of a maul on a slashing run before passing on to Forrest Denton who delicately side stepped the cover defence to skip in under the posts. Aka Martin coolly slotted the conversion and the scores were tied at 19-19.

Once again Bude dropped the Penryn kick off after the try and found themselves in desperate defence. Happily the defensive frailties of the first half had now disappeared and despite their best efforts Penryn were unable to score. Very evident in this backs-to-the-wall rear guard action were Colts Joe Wilson and Aka Martin who following the examples set by Will Kingdom and Chubby Cholwill refused to allow Penryn passage to the try line.

Bude battled their way back into the game and their determined defence was rewarded when consequential to a high kick ahead by Steve Yates, who kicked intelligently during the second half, the Penryn full back was caught in possession by the Bude chasers and flanker Lee Weston on as a replacement was able to scamper across the line for what turned out to be the winning try.

Penryn threw everything they had at Bude in the final 12 minutes as they looked to snatch a win but there was no way through the resolute Bude defence who recorded another fine home victory.

Bude spectators returned to the Stew Bell and bar happy but asking the question, "Why can't we play like this away from home?"

Scorers

Bude: Tries: Mark Parsons, Matt Williams and Lee Weston; Cons: Matt Trewin and Aka Martin

Penryn: Tries: Darren Pellow, Mike Slater and George Randlesome.

Bude: M Williams, P Cholwill, B Sobey, L Dunkin, M Parsons, D Barnes, W Kingdom, J Wilson, O Mounce, S Yates, D Denton, M Trewin, B Couch, T Green, O Denford, L Weston, T Mitchell and A Martin.

Penryn: A Stuthridge, D Pellow, M Symons, P Webster, M Slater, P Gregory, R Banks, G Tedstone, S Harrison, D Booth, R Trevaskis, B Birkett, G Jones, J Rose, G Randlesome, T Peacock, R Burns and M Fitcock.