FOR virtually an hour at Bencoolen Meadow last Saturday Bude harboured dreams of an unlikely victory against promotion chasing Kingsbridge, as they first rattled their visitors with some aggressive defensive and attacking play and then took the lead early in the second half with a charge-down try. However, by the final whistle it was a familiar tale, with Kingsbridge running in four unanswered tries in the final quarter against the tiring Seasiders to claim the spoils and further their promotion hopes, writes Paul Cottle.

With both Barry Lucas, Andy Yates and Tom David all unavailable, Bude's side took on an even younger look than usual, especially in the front five, where hooker Dan Miles, at 20, was a positive old hand alongside skipper Barry Sobey. It all bodes well for the future, especially when the league's are re-arranged in the close season, with no relegation in the meantime, but it's causing a few selectorial headaches at present.

From the opening whistle, it was clear Bude weren't going to take a backward step against their visitors led by that wily old bird, former Plymouth Albion hooker Jason Putt, as their aggressive play knocked Kings off their stride.

The visitors didn't like it one little bit and in the 13th minute, their outside centre Matt Gibbens earned the referee's displeasure and ten minutes on the side lines for a needless trip. However, Kingsbridge did take the lead on 33 minutes, when fly half Greg Newman slotted a regulation penalty goal, after Bude were penalised for hands in the ruck.

That lead remained at the break, but virtually from the re-start the Seasiders went in front which was little more than their play deserved. Inside centre Paul Williams charged-down a clearance kick in the visitors' 22 and was alert enough to snaffle the ball and touched down just to the right of the posts. Fly half Ollie Rayner added the extras to put his side 7-3 up, giving the home supporters a real lift.

Two long distance penalty chances came Bude's way, as they sought to consolidate their lead, the first to full back Matt Trewin and the second to Rayner, but neither was taken and slowly Kingsbridge began to re-group. From a 22 drop-out after the second penalty kick, Gibbens went some way to making amends for his earlier mis-demeanours as he fashioned a try out of nothing for his right wing Andrew Nicol, following a break out from defence. Newman slotted the conversion and the visitors were back in front 10-7, a lead they would retain to the final whistle.

Scrum half Steve Yates then retired from the fray, suffering from the effects of flu, with Tim Green moving into the vacant slot at half back. Yates was soon sorely missed and in the 61st minute from an attacking scrum deep in the Bude 22, left wing Jake Chapman went over wide out.

By now the Seasiders were clearly tiring and on 70 minutes from a defensive lineout No 8 Matt Hamilton crashed over from close range. Then with four minute remaining, following a mix-up at half back at another defensive scrum, the visitors' openside flanker Jack Cope was on hand to pick up the loose ball and cross for his side's fourth try of the afternoon, giving the final scoreline 7-25, which in truth flattered Kingsbridge and did scant justice to a brave and encouraging display by Bude's young side.

This Saturday, Bude take a break from league rugby and travel to the south coast of the Duchy to face Falmouth in a rearranged Quarter Final tie in the Skinners Brewery sponsored Cornwall Knockout, with a place in the Semi-Finals against either Hayle or Camborne up for grabs.

Scorers:

Bude: Paul Williams (Try), Ollie Rayner (Conversion).

Kingsbridge:Andrew Nicol, Jake Chapman, Matt Hamilton, Jack Cope (Tries), Greg Newman (Conversion and Penalty goal).

Bude: Matt Trewin, Martin Green, Tim Green, Paul Williams, Olly Denford, Ollie Rayner, Steve Yates (Mark Dennis), Gareth Walker, Dan Miles, Barry Sobey (Capt), John Hiscock, Joel Troke (Mike Beckly), Will Kingdon, Dave Uglow and Matt Williams. Replacement not used: Adam Williams.

Referee: Mr Al Denham (Falmouth - Cornwall RRS).