Plenty of positives for Bude despite pre-season defeat to Saltash

BUDE completed their pre-season preparations prior to this weekend’s league opener at home to St Austell Seconds (3pm) as they entertained one-league higher Saltash at Bencoolen Meadow last Saturday.

There was little to separate the sides in the opening half which went scoreless, however, with the second period barely a minute old, the Seasiders took the lead. Good work from flankers Matt Maniglia and Finley Fry, now leading the side in succession to Will Hockridge, found inside-centre Edy Hilliam-Cooke and his deft pass put his midfield partner and new vice-captain Ollie Rowland through the slimmest of gaps to dot down under the posts. Fly-half Olly Denford added the extras for 7-0.

The home side had a few chances to increase their lead, with second row Fred Saxton denied a score as he was deemed to be held up over the line with the referee unsighted.

The game began to open up late on, and in the 70th minute, with the home side on the attack, the ball was turned over in contact. The visitors swiftly moved the ball out to right wing Henry Williams who stepped his opposite number on the outside and raced down the touchline, eventually touching down under the uprights.

Fly-half Dylan Davies added a simple conversion, and then virtually from the restart, full-back Ryan Cruickshanks took a pass near halfway and his electric pace proved too hot for the Seasiders' defence out wide as he shot in at the corner to give his side a lead they never surrendered.

BUDE: Toby Mallard; Jack Cooper, Ollie Rowland, Edy Hilliam-Cooke, Adam Lovejoy; Olly Denford, Olly Mounce; Alex Robinson, Harvey Cholwill, Charlie Firman; Nick Waterson, Fred Saxton; Finley Fry (capt), Matt Maniglia, Joe Wilson. Replacements: Olly Gelpey Ridley, Will Hockridge, Anthony Kennett, Josh Rowland, Jaylen Hopgood, Brad Thomas, Ben Tharme.