TEIGNMOUTH scored a try in the final few minutes to inflict a second defeat on Bude Women in the space of a couple of months.

Back in November, the Devon-based club, who used players from three different clubs as well as some spare Bude players, won 31-20 on their visit to North Cornwall. But this time, it was a much closer affair as they just edged home, 17-12 at the Bitton Park Sports Ground.

Bude’s dominated the set-piece right from the start, winning scrums against the head and securing lineouts with ease through Maxine Holder’s great play at hooker.

Within ten minutes Bude had their first try on the board. Consistent pressure from the forwards led to tight-head prop Hannah Pickard scoring over the crushed forms of three Teignmouth defenders.

Bude kept up the pressure in attack at every opportunity, but some interesting calls from the young referee gave Teignmouth the forward momentum and it seemed inevitable they would break through. The defensive line was solid and Teignmouth had to work hard to create an overlap, which they eventually exploited to give themselves a 7-5 lead.

Bude women came straight back into the game, turning over rucks and mauls through the quick work of their forwards, which included new number eight, Kate Belsey.

This gave a solid platform for Ema Glaze, who directed the game expertly from scrum-half, to use Pickard to crash through the gameline, from which Nicole Rowland almost scored a breakaway try after a spectacular 30-metre run but was brought down just short.

Bude couldn’t take advantage of the territory before half-time, and it would be a while before they were in such a strong attacking position again as Teignmouth kept them pinned in their own half after the break.

Brilliant tackles from both wingers Stacey Hillier-Cholwill and Tia Gray prevented certain Teignmouth tries before two tries were held up on the line.

However, the constant pressure eventually allowed the home left-winger through to make it 12-5.

Better play from the restart saw Bude in the territory they needed and it looked like they might have scored on the left wing but Holder was caught less than a metre short.

With determination, Bude worked it back across the park, freeing the backs and Vinnie James flew over the line for a birthday try, which was converted by fly-half Bonnie Hillier to make it 12-12.

Teignmouth tactically dropped to uncontested scrums, preventing Bude turning over the ball as they had been all game, and this gave them the extra push they needed to score a final try, which Bude simply didn’t have time to come back from.

The ladies are also hosting a training session at the club on Saturday morning, which starts at 11am.

A qualified RFU coach will lead the one-hour session, which is open to anyone regardless of whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player.

Bude’s men’s first team’s clash at Lanner last Saturday was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and has been rearranged for Saturday,?February 24.

Only three of the scheduled seven games went ahead in the Cornwall and Devon League with Bude’s current league position of fifth not being affected.

The second team’s Junior County Cup against their Launceston counterparts was abandoned midway through the first-half after visiting player Dom Theobald suffered a broken leg.

The score was 0-0 when the incident happened.