Saturday, March 9

Verde Recreo Hockey League

Southern Two

Bodmin 5

DESPITE scoring four times, Bude fell to a disappointing defeat to Bodmin in their penultimate home match of the season.

Bude, determined to implement a positive view on the game, began with some excellent attacking hockey but were caught on the break inside ten minutes to fall 1-0 down.

However, they were level within a couple of minutes as Charlie Falla found himself at the back-post and neatly finished a rebound to keep up his impressive record of scoring in every game he’s played this season.

A similar affair happened shortly after as Bodmin found a second goal and within a few minutes Bude struck right back as Kristof Saunders hit a reverse shot from the edge of the D to bring the scores level.

The home side continued to play decently but conceded again before half-time.

The second 35 minutes was an open, end-to-end affair with both teams gunning for the win.

But Bodmin delivered the telling shots, storming into an unassailable 5-2 lead.

Despite this, Bude pushed on until the end and were rewarded when Tom Hall nicked one back for the home side before Noah Reeve’s neat finish ensured a nervous finish. Bude were pushing for the late equaliser but were unable to find it. And even with a short corner on the final whistle, they saw Tom Fry’s direct drag-flick well saved by the Bodmin keeper to ensure the result and all three points headed back down the A39.

Mid-table Bude are at home once more on Saturday as they welcome second-bottom Plymouth University A (2.30pm) before they round off their season at Plymouth Marjon C next weekend.

West Clubs Women’s Hockey League

South Division

Bude 1

Penzance 4

BUDE have left themselves with plenty to do in their final three games to avoid relegation after falling to a 4-1 defeat against Penzance at the Budehaven Sports Centre.

The home side started well against their West Cornwall visitors, who they had lost to 6-3 before Christmas.

Stringing together some nice passing moves and working hard off the ball, the North Cornwall side looked to have put their recent run of defeats behind them when they took an early lead from a short corner strike by Cara Phillips into the bottom corner.

However, they were unable to carry this lead into half-time with the visitors snatching an equaliser shortly before the break against the run of play.

The return to form was, however, rudely curtailed shortly after the restart when the visitors ran in three goals in a ten-minute purple patch that started with a shot from an impossible angle that somehow beat the goalkeeper at the near-post. The next two goals came as Bude tried to find a response and were caught on the break as heads started to drop and tempers flared.

The last quarter saw an improvement from the home side, and some more pressure applied to the visitors, but Penzance defended well and held on for a comfortable victory to reinforce their place behind the top three.

Bude, who are now ninth in the ten-team division, have three games to avoid relegation, starting with a vital away trip to sixth-placed Plymouth Marjon 2, who are two points ahead, on Saturday (11am).

Bude end the season on March 30 with a home game against leaders Newquay.