Saturday, December 2

Tribute Cornwall and Devon?League

Bude 21

THREE second-half yellow cards proved costly as Bude threw away a 14-3 half-time lead against Wellington at Bencoolen Meadow.

The home side went into the game full of confidence after winning five of their last six league games and scored an excellent opening try.

Player/coach Angus Hodges, who continued at blindside-flanker after scoring a hat-trick at Torrington, made a break down the blindside before offloading to full-back Olly Denford. The full-back then drew his opposite number before passing to outside-centre Matt Trewin to go over for an easy score.

While the first try came from good running rugby, the second was all about the skill of Wilson and the strength of inside-centre, Ed Hilliam-Cooke.

After dominating yet another scrum, Wilson peeled off the back before offloading to Hilliam-Cooke. With three defenders in his way, there looked to be no room. However, he ran straight through them, using his brute strength to touch down. Again Denford converted to make it 14-0.

Wellington started to come into the game and added a penalty through Davey as Bude led 14-3 at half-time.

Bude have been slow to restart in the second-half and it cost them yet again. A Wellington scrum on the Bude ten-metre ended with an excellent finish by winger Tyler Hart after great work from centre, Ben Gremlin.

Bude needed a response and it was Wilson who provided it. A penalty was kicked to the corner and after winning the lineout, a driving maul ended with Wilson touching down. Denford converted and with 15 minutes to go they had an 11 point lead.

The home side’s discipline has been another area of concern and they remarkably had three players sent to the sin-bin in the final stages.

Hodges was the first to spend ten minutes in the bin after a high-tackle on the winger who looked certain to score while Saxton and Watton were also sent to the bin for repeated offending and backchat to the referee.

With Hodges off, Wellington scored their winning tries.

Second-row Regan Walker went over after a fine team move before Hart broke Bude hearts by crossing after some quick hands in the backs.

Davey kicked both conversions and then added a late penalty after Bude infringed in front of their own posts.

And although the home side rallied in the final stages and had a couple of late penalties, their decision to go for a scrum ended with the ball being lost as well as the game and their unbeaten home record.

Hodges admitted that the result hurt.

He said: “It’s without doubt the most disappointing result of the season so far because we played so well in the first-half.

“In the opening 40 they barely got in our own half. We kept the ball, kicked well and strung lots of phases together.

“However, the second-half was the opposite. We were under a lot of pressure and when we did get the ball our kicking was poor and we invited pressure. We had to defend for long spells and that’s where the fatigue came in, which led to penalties and the three yellow-cards, which has cost us.

“We’ve struggled after the break in most of our games and we’ve been able to get away with it. But against the better sides we haven’t and that’s what happened on Saturday.

“However, we’ve got another game on Saturday at Wessex and I’m expecting a big response. We played well against Wellington for long spells but we need to put in a full 80 minute performance and not drop off in the second-half.”

Bude —

Tries: Trewin, Hilliam-Cooke, Wilson

Convs: Denford 3

Pens: N/A