Sunday, November 3

Women’s National Challenge 2 South West (West)

Minehead Barb Pink Ladies 5

Bude Ladies 33

FULL-BACK Frankie Perry scored four tries for the second successive week as Bude won at third-placed Minehead Barb Pink Ladies at The Tom Stewart Field.

The two sides had never met before but they overcame a challenging first-half to run away with it after the break and move up to sixth.

From the off it soon turned into a bruising encounter, both teams carrying hard and defences working overtime. 

Fifteen minutes in, Bude’s forwards made some big inroads into the Somerset side’s defence down the right-hand side. With one more carry and quick ball for Lisa Honey at scrum-half, some fast hands from the backs put Perry into space down the left-wing to go over the line and break the deadlock. Honey added the extras. 

Minehead came back with an unconverted try 25 minutes in to make it 7-5 to Bude at the break. 

Bude playing uphill in the second-half showed their intent, pinning Minehead in their 22 from the kick-off. With the forwards on the rumble and showing real grit and patience, they were rewarded with prop Mel Ruby crashing over the line. 

Bude kept the hosts in their half for most of the second-half and some great pressure and forcing mistakes led to opportunities for three more tries for Perry, two of which were converted by Honey and the other by Tia Gray. 

They are next in action this Sunday when fourth-placed Withycombe Ladies visit Bencoolen Meadow (2.30pm).