COUNTIES TWO CORNWALL

Newquay Hornets 7 Bude 29

DESPITE the best efforts of Storm Boelo to derail proceedings at a windswept and rain-lashed Sports Centre ground, Bude put in a fine performance against basement side Newquay Hornets to secure another bonus-point victory that keeps them well-placed behind early leaders Helston and Penryn.

Neither side was at full strength, with Hornets having to field a number of guest players to fill their complement, while the Seasiders were also without their talisman, Fred Saxton, which resulted in skipper Finley Fry moving into the second row alongside last season's captain, Will Hockridge. Lewis Jones slotted into the back-row, up from the bench.

Then, the late withdrawal of hooker Harvey Cholwill and scrum-half Olly Mounce caused further disruption for the visitors with their places going to Josh Rowland and Ed Hilliam-Cooke respectively, while Josh Brown and Stanley Waters were named amongst the replacements after the seconds' game at home to Bodmin was called off due to the adverse weather forecast.

Unsurprisingly, with the dreadful conditions and the slippery ball causing numerous handling errors, there were scrums a plenty, but little in the way of slick handling moves amongst the backs.

The visitors opened the scoring with a close-range try in the 12th minute from No.8 Joe Wilson and followed that up with second on 35 minutes from inside-centre Hilliam-Cooke, converted by his midfield partner, Olly Denford. Wilson added a third five-pointer just before the break to give his side a 17-0 lead at the turnaround.

With the weather worsening and conditions now favouring the hosts, Newquay now had their best period of the game, and on 53 minutes their No.8 Tyler Croft forced his way over as Bude's defence was breached for the first and only time of the afternoon. The conversion was added and Hornets were back within 10 points.

However, bolstered by the impact of their bench, the Seasiders quickly regained the initiative and with a little over 10 minutes remaining a third try from Wilson for his hat-trick clinched the bonus point for his side, with Denford adding the extras.

There now was no way back for the home side and a 77th minutes try from Fry, another close-range effort, delivered the coup de grace, and at the final whistle Bude could return home satisfied with their afternoon's endeavours.

This Saturday Bude entertain second-placed Penryn at Bencoolen Meadow, with the kick off time brought forward to 2.30pm now the clocks have gone back for the winter months, while the seconds are also in league action, away to Roseland in Counties Three Cornwall. The Colts are also at home, entertaining their Bideford counterparts in a friendly fixture which gets underway at midday.

Bude Ladies, who were edged out 12-5 by visiting Devonport Services Ladies on October 18, are back in action as they face their local derby for the season.

They head up the A39 to tackle Bideford Ladies on Sunday with a 2.30pm start in Women’s NC 2 South West (West).

BUDE: Toby Mallard; Oscar Davey, Olly Denford, Edy Hilliam-Cooke, Jack Cooper; Brad Thomas, Ollie Rowland; Alex Robinson, Josh Rowland, Charlie Firman; Will Hockridge, Finley Fry (capt); Lewis Jones, Matt Maniglia, Joe Wilson. Replacements: Josh Brown, Olly Ridley, Stanley Waters.

Tries: Hilliam-Cooke, Wilson (3), Fry; Convs: Denford (2); Pens: N/A.

Seasiders’ man-of-the-match: Joe Wilson.