BUDE’S promising start to their season continues following their comfortable four-try bonus point victory over an organised and well-drilled Wadebridge Camels Seconds side at Bencoolen Meadow last Saturday.

After two games the sit at the top of the Counties Two Cornwall league table, with maximum points, ahead on points scored difference from Camborne Seconds as they seek to rebound to the Counties One Western West at the first attempt.

The hosts' starting line-up showed three changes from the previous week, including a first start on the left wing for former Colt, Cobi Yelland, in place of the injured Oscar Davey, and the return of Jack Lipscombe in the front row.

On a bright, but blustery, afternoon Bude played into the elements in the first half and it took them little time to get into their stride.

On three minutes fly-half Brad Thomas opened the scoring with a well-struck penalty goal after Camels were penalised for holding on in the tackle. For the next half-hour, which included a vicious rainstorm sweeping across the ground, Wadebridge's defence held firm.

However, in the 34th minute the home side went further ahead when No.8 Fred Saxton crashed over from close-range following a ruck deep in the visitors' 22, after a lineout and well-worked backs move. Thomas added the extras and the Seasiders led 10-0.

At the break the score remained unchanged, but early in the second half with replacement prop Hez Crane in the sin-bin, a victim of his side's mounting penalty count, the visitors closed the gap when inside-centre Tristan Jago was put through a gap from an uncontested scrum. Fly-half Alfie Browning missed the conversion, but Wadebridge were back within one score.

With Crane's return to the field of play and contested scrums restored, Bude's pack was once more dominant and with 15 minutes remaining, after his fellow forwards had driven deep into the visitors' territory, replacement prop Charlie Firman was unstoppable from 15 metres out.

Thomas' conversion attempt was off target, but on 72 minutes the Seasiders went further ahead when an excellent move featuring both backs and forwards created just enough room for right wing Ed Hilliam-Cooke to squeeze in at the corner. The extras from Thomas' boot was again illusive, but Bude now led 20-5.

As the game went into stoppage time, the result was now beyond doubt. However, there was time for one last attack and despite the best efforts of the visitors, second-row Joe Wilson, showing power go with his usual excellent footwork, forced his way over for his side's fourth try, bagging a bonus point in the process. Thomas added the extras for 27-5.

This Saturday Bude take a break from league action with Honiton from Counties 2 Devon League the visitors in the first-round of the RFU Community Cup (3pm).

Meanwhile, Bude Seconds play host to Bideford Seconds in a friendly fixture (1pm) while the Colts are away to Camborne in the Cornwall Colts League.

BUDE: Will Pharo, Ed Hilliam-Cooke, Ben Tharme, Olly Denford, Cobi Yelland, Brad Thomas, Ollie Rowland, Hayden Chater, Jack Lipscombe, Alex Robinson, Will Hockridge (capt), Joe Wilson, Finley Fry, Matt Maniglia, Fred Saxton. Replacements: Charlie Firman, Harvey Cholwill, Chris Hill, Olly Mounce.

Tries: Saxton, Firman, Hilliam-Cooke, Wilson; Convs: Thomas (2); Pens: Thomas.

Seasiders’ man-of-the-match: Ollie Rowland.