BUDE Rugby Club held their annual presentation evening at Bencoolen Meadow on Friday, May 18.

In front of a sizeable audience, club members sat down inside a marquee on the pitch for a two-course buffet before chairman Paul Cholwill started the speeches, where he discussed the club’s achievements and thanked all of the committee and volunteers.

The newly-formed Bude Women were first up with captain Lydia Furse and coach Les Cushing saying their piece.

Over the course of their first ever season, the women have taken on the likes of Teignmouth and Withycombe in friendlies and have decided to join a league for the first time next year where they’ll compete in the RFUW National Challenge 2 — South West.

Such has been the quality of their play, a handul of players were selected for the Cornwall Women’s squad.

The winners of the women’s awards saw Tia Gray voted Most Improved Player, Lisa Honey take the Players’ Player, Hannah Pickard win the Clubman of the Year and Ema Glaze win the Fish out of Water award.

The second team, who are run by Richard Newton (more commonly known as Larry), had a solid season combining friendlies and the Tribute CRFU Duchy League Cup. However they were just edged out by old rivals Launceston in a nailbiter at Polson Bridge.

Newton’s Coach’s Player of the Year award went to Phil Thomas with Chris Teague winning Most Improved Player and Sean Andrew win Player of the Year.

The first team under new player/coach Angus Hodges finished a more than creditable fifth in the Tribute Cornwall and Devon League following relegation from Tribute Western Counties (West).

Hodges and centre Ed Hilliam-Cooke shared the most tries with 23 apiece with Hilliam-Cooke also winning the coveted Players’ Player of the Year while full-back Olly Denford was named Player of the Year.

Liam Cook (Man of Steel), Matt Williams (Big Hitter), Rory Hodges (Most Improved Player) were also recipients of awards although brothers Finley and Tremaine Fry, who both play in the back-row, picked up the other two main trophies.

Finley won Joe Wilson’s Captain’s Cup while Tremaine was the recipient of the club’s newest trophy — The Young Player of the Year — which was donated by the family of the late Talan Penny, who was a former player at the club and a good mate of Tremaine.

Player/coach Angus Hodges and chairman Paul Cholwill are already looking forward to the autumn when the 2018/19 campaign gets underway.

Hodges said: “I’m really looking forward to next season and we’re looking for at least a top-three place, if not promotion.

“I’d like to get some of the younger players back involved while continuing to try and improve the younger players and push on.

“A lot of good work has been done this season so hopefully we can do well.”

Cholwill echoed Hodges’ statements as well as thanking everyone for their support.

He said: “I’d like to thank our main sponsors James and Aldridge Garage and Bude Brewery for their support and both are looking to carry on as main sponsors next season.

“I’d also like to thank all the match sponsors and supporters for a great season and I’m looking forward to seeing the first team push for promotion and the ladies enjoy their first ever season of league rugby!”

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