Cornwall and Devon League

Falmouth 24

Bude 32

The Recreation Ground

BUDE travelled to Falmouth without key players Freddy Saxton and Duncan Tout but still managed to maintain their promotion challenge with a hard earned victory over a defiant and resolute Falmouth.

Bude were ahead after five minutes when a searing break from Kyle Speare took them deep into Falmouth territory and when the ball was recycled he was on hand again to accept a deft pass from Steve Yates to score under the posts. Dan Pearce converted.

Bude were on top but lacking their usual fluency and were pegged back when Falmouth’s Justin Irons converted a penalty awarded after a ruck offence.

A clever kick from Steve Yates put Bude in an excellent attacking position and they were able to send winger Tim Green flying into the corner after a delightful pass from Dan Pearce for their second try. The conversion sailed wide.

More scrappy play from Bude encouraged Falmouth to launch determined thrusts at the Bude defence. They were rewarded when they were given a penalty for a Bude offside infringement. Irons’ kick made the score 6-12.

A touchline dash by the elusive Ollie Denford was finished with a delicate offload to the supporting Joe Wilson who strolled over for a try that went unconverted.

Falmouth now exerted concerted pressure on the Bude defence but were unable to cross the try line and when the ball was lost desperate Dan Pearce scooted 50 metres up field before he was bundled into touch by the equally desperate defence. However, his stellar effort was rewarded when Ollie Mounce kicked Bude to within five metres of the Falmouth line and from the following maul the Bude forwards drove the Falmouth eight back over their line allowing Joe Wilson to ground the ball for his second try and Bude’s bonus point.

Dan Pearce missed the conversion but was successful with a later penalty kick to establish a 19-point lead.

Sadly Bude continued to intersperse bouts of excellent play with periods of poor decision-making and careless passing. Falmouth took advantage of this generosity and Irons once again punished Bude with a well-taken penalty.

Half-time saw Bude with a 16 point lead without ever having established a real dominance and soon after the interval another penalty conceded gave Irons his fourth successful penalty kick.

Falmouth were now very much in the ascendancy and hammered away at the Bude line with a series of forward drives. The valiant defence kept them out but at the expense of a yellow card for the robust James Comber.

The siege was finally relieved by a fine clearing kick from the impressive Pearce. Bude then returned to the attack. A drop goal attempt by Steve Yates wobbled its way like a deflated balloon wide of the posts.

Not to be denied, Bude continued to press forward, spearheaded by intense forward pressure. Adam Williams pounced on a loose ball, Will Kingdon and Jason Bolt cleared the ruck and the ball was spread to Kyle Speare who waltzed through the Falmouth defence for his second try of the afternoon. Pearce’s conversion gave Bude a healthy 32-12 lead.

Bude seemed to think the job was now done and relaxed their efforts as well as their concentration levels. Falmouth took advantage of this and forced Bude into urgent defensive action. Despite their best endeavours they were unable to contain a rampant Falmouth who crossed for two tries both scored by speedy winger Lee, one of which was converted by Justin Irons.

With their lead reduced to eight points Bude pulled themselves together and were able to see out the game relatively comfortably camped in the Falmouth half.

This bonus point win meant that Bude maintained their position at the top of the Cornwall and Devon League.

Falmouth — Tries: Lee x2; Convs: Irons x2; Pens: Irons x4

Bude — Tries: Speare x2, Wilson x2, Green; Convs: Pearce x2; Pens: Pearce

• This weekend, Bude will hope that if their recent form is anything to go by, they should be in for a comfortable home win against lowly Tavistock.

Meanwhile, second place St Ives play Falmouth, who, as they showed against Bude, can compete with the best of opposition.