By Paul Cottle

COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST (SATURDAY)

Bude 24 Pirates Amateurs 43

DESPITE a terrific first half performance which saw them lead 24-12 at the break, Bude’s young inexperienced team were eventually undone by an experienced, more streetwise Pirates Amateurs side at Bencoolen Meadow last Saturday.

The West Cornwall outfit scored 31 unanswered points in the second half to claim the spoils. A result which consolidated their third place in the league table, hot on the heels of the top two, Plymstock Albion Oaks and Paignton.

With skipper Will Hockridge and old hands Charlie Watton and Olly Denford all unavailable, the Seasiders always knew this was going to be a tough game, but they set off at a cracking pace and within seven minutes they had taken the lead with a try from number eight Ben Hancock following a tapped penalty. Fly-half Brad Thomas added the conversion for 7-0.

However, on 11 minutes, the visitors’ full back Ben Wragg carved open Bude’s defence to score a fine individual try to bring his side within two points, but was unable to add the extras to level the scores.

The home side then stretched their lead with a great finish from left wing Ollie Rowland, following some excellent work by full-back Alfie Hurwood. With Thomas bisecting the uprights for an additional two points, the Seasiders had a little breathing space at 14-5.

With the momentum rapidly shifting one way and then the other at this stage of the game, Pirates closed the gap once more as hooker Eli Williams dotted down at the back of a drive maul for full-back Wragg to convert (14-12).

With the half-hour mark rapidly approaching, player-coach, Joe Wilson, at inside centre, crossed from close range following a series of drives after the home side opted to run a penalty award.

The conversion attempt by full back Hurwood went begging, but Bude were good value for their 19-12 lead.

Then, shortly before the break, a cleverly worked cross-field kick from Thomas, taken on by Rowland resulted in a penalty award to Bude deep in the visitors’ 22 as Pirates were forced to kill the ball. Skipper for the day Finley Fry shot over for the hosts’ fourth try of the afternoon to claim a bonus point. However, the extras again eluded Hurwood, but at the turnaround the Seasiders led 24-12.

Pirates were a different proposition altogether in the second period and as the game wore on Bude simply had no answers to their pace out wide.

First, replacement hooker, Ted Hocking crossed early in the half, before scrum-half Sam Carter brought the visitors within two points with his side’s fourth try for a bonus point, neither of which was converted by Wragg.

Shortly before the 60-minute mark skipper, number eight Stan Sommers, clocked up Pirates’ fifth try, a score which gave his side the lead for the first time.

Then, with the home side visibly tiring, prop Joe Best powered over from five metres, with Wragg converting to extend the visitors’ lead to 12 points. The full back rounded off the scoring from the last play of the game on 80 minutes and added the extras to rub salt into the hosts’ wounds.

Meanwhile Bude Seconds were on the end of an 83-3 thumping at home to league leaders Camborne Seconds in Counties Three Cornwall.

This Saturday, Bude have a rare day off, before they resume league action at Barnstaple Seconds next weekend. However, Bude Seconds are away to Penryn Seconds on Saturday in the league (2.30pm).

BUDE: Alfie Hurwood, Jack Horwell, Ben Tharme, Joe Wilson, Ollie Rowland, Brad Thomas, Olly Mounce; Nick Waterson, Rory Mead, Chris Allin, Fred Saxton, Harvey Cholwill, Finley Fry (capt), Matt Maniglia, Ben Hancock. Replacements: Fraser Martyn, Lewis Jones, Gareth Hutchings.

Tries: Hancock, Rowland, Wilson, Fry; Convs: Thomas (2); Pens: N/A.