BUDE skipper Warren Rumble admitted the Seasiders ‘didn’t cover ourselves in glory in the field’ following their six-wicket defeat at Wadebridge Seconds on Saturday in Division Two East of the Bond Timber Cornwall Cricket League.

The Seasiders won a crucial toss on a used pitch at The Riverside, but found a disciplined home attack hard to get away as they could only post 195-7 from their 45 overs, a score only made possible by Brett Hunter’s 58 not out from 57 balls towards the end.

Earlier, thirties from Wayne Adams (33) and Rumble (32) gave Bude a platform, but nobody with the exception of Hunter could kick on.

Wadebridge got off to a good start through Charlie McLachlan who made 24 in good time before being bowled by Matt Mansbridge, but while Tom Wood anchored one end for 50 from 100 balls, it was Jamie Beare’s excellent 80 that kept the hosts in the promotion mix.

Wood and Tom Wilson both fell to David Sillifant (2-27 off 7) and when Beare was run-out by a fine throw from Matt Whitefield coming in from the cover boundary, Bude had an outside chance.

But a combination of poor fielding and the drop of James Cox allowed the big right-hander to smack 23 not out as the winning runs came with 29 balls to spare.

Rumble told the Post: “We didn’t cover ourselves in glory in the field and that’s what lost it for us.

“We did okay with the bat and it was good to learn that if the top-order doesn’t score the runs or kick on as we’d like, the middle-order can wag so to speak.

“We knew it wasn’t the typical Wadebridge wicket we were all expecting as it was being used for the third time. It was tricky as some kept low and some span and some didn’t.

“It meant at tea we knew if we could bowl well and take the opportunities when they came we could make it difficult.

“They got off to a good start and we made it close towards the end, but a couple of dropped catches and misfields towards the end meant we couldn’t make it as tight as we should have, which would have made it really interesting.”

Rumble praised Hunter’s excellent knock plus bowlers Sillifant and Richard Dymond, the latter on his first bowl of the season.

He continued: “Brett’s batting was excellent, he’d been asking for an opportunity and since going up the order he’s got back-to-back 50s which is great.

“With the ball, both Dave and Dicky were good and made it interesting towards the end.”

Bude sit bang in mid-table in fifth, exactly 38 points either side of second bottom Holsworthy who they visit next Saturday, and this weekend’s opponents, leaders Luckett.

The Seasiders handed the villagers one of their only two defeats so far this term back in May, and Rumble has backed his charges on home soil.

He continued: “I missed the Luckett game as I was away on my stag do, and I haven’t played them for a couple of years.

“They’re a very strong side on paper with the bat and are obviously top of the table for a reason, but we beat them comfortably down there with a couple missing, so hopefully we can do the double.”

Bude recently held their inaugural women’s softball festival at Crooklets as they look to kickstart a ladies team, and Rumble expects that to keep gaining traction for the rest of the season.

He said: “Everybody’s really enjoying the new ladies section and it’s started off really well.

“We’ve got over 30 already either training or interested in coming along, so we’re excited to see where that goes.

“Anybody who wants to come along can do on a Wednesday evening for 6.15pm at the club, or message any of club’s social media channels!”