Saturday, December 22

Tribute Cornwall and Devon League

Topsham 22

Bude 29

BUDE ensured they went into the new year with a five-point cushion at the top of the table after prevailing 29-22 in an entertaining encounter at Topsham.

The fixture was originally scheduled for seven days earlier but was quickly rearranged despite both sides missing a number of players.

For Bude, a lack of backs meant that forward Steven Bromwich had to go on the wing, Angus Hodges vacated his usual position at blindside-flanker to play at inside-centre while youngster Will Pharo started at fly-half in place of the absent Steve Yates.

The home side have enjoyed a solid season since winning promotion to sit in mid-table and took the lead inside a minute through a penalty after Bude were penalised for backchatting to the referee.

However Bude responded well and after a whole host of pick and gos, hooker Jason Bolt crashed over. Olly Denford converted.

Within the half hour, Bude extended their lead to nine points as man-of-the-match Joe Wilson dotted down following a driving maul from ten metres.

Topsham reduced the deficit back to four points soon after. Following a scrum, the ball was worked out through the backs, which eventually allowed the right-winger to score in the corner from 15 metres out.

However Bude managed to grab their third score of the afternoon close to half-time when they were awarded a penalty try when a driving maul was illegally halted.

The visiting forwards are known throughout the area for their power, but it was a well-worked backs move that put them 24-8 ahead five minutes after the restart.

Some good hands saw the ball worked out left and replacement Rory Mead exploited an overlap to run through the gap from ten metres out.

Being 16 points down seemed to breath the home side into life as they piled on the pressure. Their backs were continuously dangerous and they reduced the gap to just two points by the hour with two converted tries. Both of which were finished off in the right-hand corner.

Bude tighthead-prop Chris Allin was then sent to the sin-bin for ten minutes near to the hour for being offside. However despite strong pressure from Topsham, they managed to survive.

They then went seven points ahead as Wilson grabbed his second.

After more good forward play got them up the field, the ball was worked out to the right-hand side where Wilson took advantage of the winger drifting too far across to slip through the gap from 20 metres and ran in unopposed for his second of the afternoon.

Although there were five minutes remaining, Bude held out with ease to pile the pressure on the chasing pack going into the second-half of the season.

Reflecting on the game, player/coach Angus Hodges, said: We knew it’d be a battle psychologically and physically. Throughout the week a lot of our boys didn’t want to play and we had a few missing for Christmas which made it hard to get a team together. It was a bit short notice but in the end we had quite a good side.

“However we were missing a few backs which meant that Steve Bromwich played on the wing and I had to play at centre. They had some very good backs and to be fair they exploited us out wide, so you had to give them credit for that.

“But luckily enough we had enough control in the game in that we managed to grind it out. It was one of the hardest games of the season. Unlike other games where although the score was close, we didn’t feel that threatened, it could have gone either way. It was pretty nerve-wracking.”

Although Hodges was pleased with the score, he believes it showed some of their deficiencies.

He said: “We got five points so I can’t really complain but I think it shows that the depth in our squad if we do get promoted may not be strong enough at the moment. But it’s a good wake-up call for the second half of the season and I’m proud of the boys who went down there. But if we want to get promoted and stay there, we have a lot of work to do!”

Bude should be back to full-strength for the visit of Torquay Athletic to Bencoolen Meadow on Saturday (2.30pm) and Hodges is confident despite the Devon side being the only side to beat them so far this term.

He said: “I’m expecting a lot of hunger from our boys. We’ve definitely played better teams since we last played them.

“Hopefully after the Christmas period everyone will be healthy and refreshed. I’m expecting big things and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t come away with a win!”

Bude —

Denford, Horwell, Sharp, A Hodges, Bromwich, Pharo, Mounce; Jeffery, Bolt, Allin, Kingdon, Troke, Dunkin, F Fry, Wilson

Replacements: Mead, Comber, Sobey

Tries: Bolt, Wilson 2, penalty try, Mead

Convs: Denford

Pens: N/A

Bude’s man-of-the-match: Joe Wilson