Bude 2nd XV 12

Torrington 2nd XV 50

BUDE’s second XV were soundly defeated by a well organised and enthusiastic Torrington team at Bencoolen Meadow.

Bude began the game well and opened the scoring when the returning Freddie Saxton, playing at number 8, forced his way over the line from a five-metre scrum. George Morris converted to give Bude a 7-0 lead.

The lead was short lived as Torrington managed to catch their own restart kick, and when the Bude defence was bamboozled by a wickedly bouncing ball, scored under the posts with a converted try to level the scores. They then snatched the lead when a move originating in their own half culminated with winger Ben Haville scoring in the corner. The conversion was unsuccessful but Torrington went into the half-time break leading 12-7.

Soon after play resumed, Bude levelled the scores when their forwards rumbled over the line with a powerful rolling maul.

The balance of the game then changed dramatically; Bude already weakened by a series of injuries seemed to lose heart at what they perceived to be an act of injustice following a bizarre turn of events at a lineout that eventually led to a penalty try for Torrington which they converted.

Thereafter it was a succession for Torrington, who played some fine attacking rugby.

Bude did regain some composure and parity but luck and yellow cards went against them as they conceded a further 31 points before the end.

As well as the heavy defeat for the second team, the first XV, with a squad missing many of last season’s promotion winning side and thus struggling with life in Western Counties rugby, went down 70-21 to league leaders Truro. Despite the heavy nature of the loss, Bude never gave up and were rewarded by tries from Dave Gregory, Ollie Denford and Simon Jeffrey with Dan Pearce converting all three tries.

Next weekend sees Bude host fourth-placed Wadebridge at Bencoolen Meadow in a local derby.