By Paul Cottle

BUDE’S first team were left frustrated on Saturday as their trip to Perranporth in Counties Two Cornwall was postponed as no qualified match referee was appointed to the game, and it continues to be a big problem at present with several matches not yet played due to the issue.

The Cornwall Rugby Referees Society was unable to provide a match official from within their ranks, while the Brewers were similarly unable to provide a qualified official as the one they do have was refereeing a Colts game in the morning and is still a player who was due to face the Seasiders in the afternoon.

Here at Bude we are fortunate to have three qualified club referees in chairman Julian Morris, colts head coach David Risdon and boys’ under 16s head coach, Will Kingdon, but all of them were already otherwise engaged with officiating or coaching.

The shortage of referees is becoming a real problem in the game nationally and in particular in Cornwall, and while we are doing our bit at Bude to try to fill any gaps in the schedule, perhaps there are people – both men and women – who have played the game previously who fancy taking up the whistle to keep fit and to give something back.

If so, their local rugby club, or either the Cornwall or Devon Rugby Referees Societies or either the Cornwall or Devon Rugby Football Unions would be delighted to hear from them. Cornwall and Devon RFUs both periodically run refereeing courses, to provide official qualification and confidence to those wishing to officiate.

The Perranporth league fixtures has now been rearranged for January 23, while this Saturday sees the Seasiders away to Bideford in the first leg of this season’s Harpers Feeds Cup (2.30pm). The Colts are also away to St Austell Colts, while the seconds and Bude Ladies have no game.