Cornwall and Devon League

Bude 40

Bodmin 10

Bencoolen Meadow

BUDE continued their push for promotion with a hard earned victory over a well-organised Bodmin side.

Indeed, at times, it looked as though Bodmin were the team chasing promotion as for long periods of the game they penned Bude in their own half going through phase after phase of possession rugby. However, Bude’s salvation lay in a very dominant scrum and in the speedy and talented strike runners in the back division.

Kyle Speare and Dan Pearce consistently proved too strong and fleet of foot for the Bodmin defence to handle.

A scything break by Speare put Ollie Denford in for Bude’s first try, converted by Pearce.

The second was a fine 60 metre effort by Pearce that left the visiting defenders lying scattered in his wake as he glided through to score under the posts. He then converted his own try.

The third try came from a beautifully crafted Pearce cross kick that was expertly gathered by Tim Green, who off-loaded to the supporting Speare to cross for the score. Pearce converted.

Speare completed the first half scoring when he cut through the defence like a knife through butter to give Pearce an easy conversion.

At half time with a 28-0 lead and the bonus point safely pouched Bude looked set for an easy victory.

Comfort brings complacency and as Bude became increasingly careless and casual Bodmin fought their way back into the game with two well-worked tries by Ashley Carter and Josh Taylor.

Spurred on by this affront to their dignity Bude retaliated with two further tries. Pearce again proved much too fast and elusive for the defenders and Denford went over in the corner following a smooth passing movement.

Another bonus point win, but with difficult games ahead Bude cannot afford to allow over-confidence to blight their promotion ambitions.

Bude — tries: Speare x2, Denford x2, Pearce x2. Convs: Pearce x5

Bodmin — tries: Carter, Taylor