BUDE’S involvement in the Cornwall Cup is over after they were comfortably beaten by Falmouth at The Recreation Ground.

Despite a promising opening five minutes and a breakaway try by player/coach, Angus Hodges, the North Cornwall side found themselves camped on their own line for the majority of the first-half as the hosts went in at half-time 10-7 up.

After the break the home side upped the anti and ran in six further tries against a tiring Bude.

Scrum-half Ollie Mounce did grab a try late on but it was the Western Counties?(West) outfit who moved into the next round.

Reflecting on the game, player/coach, Angus Hodges, admitted there was plenty to work on but sees signs of improvement.

Hodges said: “We knew it was going to be a hard against a good side and so it proved.

“At the beginning of the first-half we had the ball and the chance to turn the screw but we didn’t and they scored within five minutes. We were then camped on our line for most of the half.

“Thankfully I managed to score a breakway try from near my own line and at 10-7 down at half-time we were in it.

“We said that we needed to start the second-half well and not be soft but we did exactly that and they showed what a good side they were.

“Saying that, there was poor rucking, our defence was lazy and we struggled. It highlighted some of the issues we’re facing.

“When we did actually get the ball we’d make some good hard yards but we’d soon lose the ball. The efficiency of our rucking wasn’t good and we started to give away penalties, although not as many as last week.

“We were defending for so much time and there’s only so much of that you can do before they start to score tries and they did.

“It was pretty disappointing but we’ll learn from it.”

Although it wasn’t a great day for Bude, Hodges was pleased with the performances of three of his young colts.

Hodges said:?“Our young boys, Aaron, Zerran and Will did really well when they came on. Their attitude was really positive and they defended and carried well. I was really pleased with them.”

Bude are next in action on Saturday when they make the trip to mid-table Plymouth Arguam and Hodges is hoping that they can finally end their away day hoodoo.

Hodges added:?“The boys are ready for this week. We’re going to go there with the attitude that we’re going to win.

This week we’re going to do some more fitness, work on our rucking and put more patterns together, which we can then implement on Saturday.

“Our first and second phase runners are good but we’re not keeping the ball well enough. We need to keep the ball and make sure that we’re looking threatening from all angles.

“But we’re definitely progressing as a team and I’m confident that we can get the points on Saturday and win our first away game of the season.”