BUDE are all but at full strength for tomorrow’s crunch clash with Bideford in Counties One Western West (2.30pm).
The Seasiders are now six points clear of the bottom two last Saturday after securing a try bonus-point in a 41-28 defeat at promotion-chasing Plymstock Albion Oaks, although on another day they could have walked away with more.
But they know they can ill-afford any mistakes against their North Devon opponents who are bottom of the table with just one win to their name all season.
Bude, who are now level on points with St Ives and Penryn, won the reverse fixture at King George’s Field back in October and will earmark this game as a chance to go clear.
But with further home games to come against strugglers St Ives, Penryn and Tavistock, the Seasiders look well-equipped to stay out of danger.
Their are two changes from last Saturday as flanker Matt Maniglia who impressed in the second half at Plymstock, comes in for Harvey Cholwill who drops down to the bench.
Ollie Rowland replaces Jack Horwell on the left wing having had to drop out last Saturday morning due to illness.
Influential centre Will Pharo is also fit and returns on the bench in place of Ryan Butler.
With it also being Harpers Day at the club and a local derby, a large crowd is expected at Bencoolen Meadow.
Reflecting on last week, joint head coach Simon Jeffery told the Post: “I was disappointed in the Plymstock result as I felt for a lot of the game we were the better side.
“We dominated the scrum but playing against a team like the Oaks when you make a mistake they will punish you for it and that happened twice in the first half to give them the lead.
“But there was an outstanding performance from young Hayden Chater at prop who was solid in every scrum, and Jack Horwell who came in at the last minute for the ill Ollie Rowland and scored our try on the stroke of half-time.”
Jeffery admits Bude are excited to be back at home, saying: “It’s a big local derby game this week so anything could happen, but the boys are definitely up for it and we’re looking to make it two from two against Bideford this weekend.“We’ve had a good week of training and have a near full-strength side to face them!”
The only absentee is prop Nick Waterson who has yet to recover from a knock sustained against leaders Paignton on December 21.
Other fixtures: Barnstaple Seconds v Kingsbridge, Penryn v Plymstock Albion Oaks, Pirates Amateurs v Paignton, Redruth Seconds v Tavistock, Wiveliscombe v St Ives.