Bude's new campaign gets off to a flying start

BUDE got their league campaign off to a flying start on Saturday with a statement 10 try demolition of St Austell's second string at Bencoolen Meadow.

New head coach Steve Harris will no doubt have been pleased with the ruthless streak displayed by his charges as they kept up the scoreboard pressure right to the final whistle.

Playing away from the clubhouse end of the ground in the first half, Bude were soon on the attack and in the 12th minute they took a well deserved lead. After fly half Brad Thomas had kicked the ball to touch deep in St Austell's 22, a well rehearsed catch and drive move saw No 8 Joe Wilson dot down wide out on the right. Inside centre Olly Denford judged his conversion attempt to perfection and the hosts led 7-0.

Four minutes later they doubled their lead when second row Will Hockridge powered over, with Denford again adding the extras.

There were two scores in quick succession around the 25 minute mark, the first from second row Fred Saxton, converted by Denford, following an excellent break by Wilson and the second from Denford himself, capitalising on a good break up the touchline by left wing Adam Lovejoy. This took Bude 26 points clear and virtually out of sight.

Then, just beyond the half hour mark, the hosts stole the ball at a defensive line out near to the visitors' 22 metre line and following a powerful drive by Saxton, flanker Matt Maniglia was on hand to take the scoring pass and touched down to the right of the uprights. Denford was again accurate with his conversion attempt.

Shortly before the break, tighthead prop Charlie Firman crashed over for his side's sixth try of the half, following quickly recycled possession at a ruck by scrum half Olly Mounce.

Bude led 38-0 and within a minute of the restart, Maniglia claimed his second try of the afternoon, barely inches in from the corner flag, the beneficiary of a fine blindside move from the home side.

From a line out on half way, Wilson then made a lovely half break and from the ensuing ruck, a quick feed down the line resulted in a well judged chip through by full back Toby Mallard, which outside centre Ollie Rowland gathered to race in under the uprights. Denford then slotted the simplest of conversions to bring up the half century of points for the home side.

Wilson and Saxton both added to their earlier scores either side of the hour mark which saw Bude stretch their lead to 64-0, courtesy of Denford's double successful conversion attempts.

It was a tough afternoon for the Saints but they did grab a consolation try two minutes from the end through No 8 Hugh Noott.

However, with the final play of the game, the veteran Noott then blotted his copybook with a clumsy high tackle that forced the referee to flash a yellow card, swiftly followed by a red, after Noott had earlier earned a 10 minute spell in the sin bin for hands in the ruck.

At the final whistle, the Seasiders could savour a well earned victory.

Bude will now make the long trip to west Cornwall to lock horns once more with Helston this Saturday.