BUDE welcome basement side Falmouth to Bencoolen Meadow tomorrow (2.30pm) in a crunch clash at the bottom of the Counties One Western West table.

The Seasiders have a four-point cushion over second bottom Wiveliscombe, but with the Somerset side having a game in-hand, and the two due to meet on January 27, a defeat against a Falmouth outfit eight points adrift of Bideford isn’t really an option.

An understrength Bude were thrashed 109-7 last Saturday at Plymstock Albion Oaks – a club record defeat – but while the scoreline will hurt – anything picked up at Horsham Fields would have been a bonus anyway.

Falmouth were reprieved relegation last term despite failing to win a game, and while they have improved markedly as shown by winning twice and a points difference of minus 238 after 14 games compared to minus 802 after 22 last term, Bude will back themselves to win.

When the two sides met at the Recreation Ground back in September, Bude won a close contest 18-16 thanks to Harry Dymond’s late penalty.

Bude make five changes to the pack from last Saturday as prop Fraser Martyn, locks Will Kingdon and Nick Waterson and back-rowers Will Hockridge and the influential Ben Hancock return.

Also back is Will Pharo who lines up at outside-centre, while Martin George, Ed Hilliam-Cooke and Pat Marks are all available as well, and will add impetus from the bench.

Elsewhere in the battle to avoid the drop, Wiveliscombe welcome leaders Plymstock, while Bideford host the league’s in-form side, Paignton, to King George’s Field.

BUDE v Falmouth: Brad Thomas, Rory Hodges, Will Pharo, Olly Denford, Zerran Hammond, Harry Dymond, Charlie Watton; Fraser Martyn, Rory Mead, Chris Allin, Will Kingdon, Nick Waterson, Will Hockridge, Freddie Saxton (capt), Ben Hancock. Replacements: Martin George, Ed Hilliam-Cooke, Pat Marks.

Other Counties One Western West fixtures: Bideford v Paignton, Penryn v Kingsbridge, Tavistock v Pirates Amateurs, Tiverton v St Ives, Wiveliscombe v Plymstock Albion Oaks.