BUDE skipper Warren Rumble admits he was ‘certainly kept happy’ after the Seasiders finished an impressive third in Division Two East of the Bond Timber Cornwall Cricket League this summer.

The Crooklets-based outfit needed late rallies to avoid relegation in the preceding couple of years, but this time were much improved in a highly-competitive division, only finishing behind champions St Austell Seconds and Werrington Seconds.

Rumble, who saw his side win 12 of their 18 completed games with two rained off and two abandoned, admitted he was aiming for mid-table, but ended up doing far better.

Bude's first team before a home game. Back row from left: Andrew De Rosa, Matt Whitefield, James Sharman, Brett Hunter, Matt Williams and Harry Dymond. Front row: Antony Buchanan, Matt Mansbridge, Warren Rumble (captain), Wayne Adams and Mark Whitefield. Missing from picture: James Turner and Lee Houghton.
Bude's first team before a home game. Back row from left: Andrew De Rosa, Matt Whitefield, James Sharman, Brett Hunter, Matt Williams and Harry Dymond. Front row: Antony Buchanan, Matt Mansbridge, Warren Rumble (captain), Wayne Adams and Mark Whitefield. Missing from picture: James Turner and Lee Houghton. (Bude CC)

He said: “When we spoke at the start of the season, I said I’d be happy if we weren’t looking over our shoulders this year again regarding relegation, and I certainly was kept happy!

“It was a great season and it’s amazing what can happen when you string a few wins together, confidence grows, players enjoy the games more and we just kept rolling!

Everyone in the team was having so much fun, even with the terrible weather for most parts of the season, it was just so much fun, and we all can’t wait for next summer.”

Bude finished 14 points behind long-time leaders Werrington which saw both teams win their respective home game, and Rumble, who kept wicket for the first time from May onwards, felt it could have been even better, adding: “Looking back if we hadn’t lost a couple games that we should have won at the start of the season, we could have finished in the top two.”

Bude were once again boosted by the superb Australian left-armer Brett Hunter who took 62 wickets in all competitions, the joint most in the county, while Rumble returned to form with the bat with 650 league runs at an average of just over 54 with six half centuries.

But while they were undoubtedly the stars, there were plenty of fine performances throughout.

Rumble said: “The main differences I think were that we took more catches and our fielding was much sharper throughout.

“When we needed a batsman to step up and score runs in a game they generally did, and of course we had Brett bowling in his second season in the UK, targeting the stumps a lot more!”

Bude are exploring the possibility of Hunter coming back again for a third time in 2025.

Rumble said: “Yes I have spoken to Brett, and hopefully visa depending he will be coming back next year. That will be huge for us as a club, and I’m hopeful of a few more new signings as we get nearer to the new year.”

While the first team did well there was plenty else going on.

The seconds narrowly missed out on a top four finish in Division Five East under captain Mike Taylor, which means they will be in the new Division Six East in the league restructure, while Wayne Adams was pivotal in getting youth cricket back to Crooklets.

Rumble said: “The seconds had a good season but unfortunately stay in the new Division Five, while Wayne and his fellow volunteers from the cricket club have done an amazing job, and I look forward to seeing the junior section grow again next year.

“I’d like to say a special thank you to Tony (Greaves), the two Mikes – Taylor and White – and Pew (Matt Mansbridge) for all of their hard work throughout the season to keep the ground looking so good, and of course the tea ladies.

“Winter nets will be starting either in late December or early January, and we invite any new players to come and get involved with this fantastic club.”