Bude Stun Withycombe In First Half Blitz

It was back to league action this week for Withycombe, and after last weeks heroics in the National Vase competition the Green and Blacks came crashing back down to Earth as top of the league Bude scored 35 unanswered first half points. After the two teams first match this season which was a 6-0 slobberknocker that went in Withycombes favour, this game was much the opposite. Bude went into the game knowing if they won that it basically guarantees them as league champions, and they played as such, blowing Withycombe away in style and leaving many at Raleigh Park scratching their heads as to what exactly went wrong.

Bude kicked off and won the kick chase, and from there they rumbled all the way to the try line to record a try after just ten seconds. Pearce kicked the extras to make it 7-0. Withycombe, somewhat shellshocked, got possession back and mounted some pressure. But the ball was turned over and Bude counter attacked with men over to romp in for another early try which Pearce also converted making it 14-0.

Withycombe couldn't get a foothold anywhere. Everything seemed to go wrong for the Raleigh Park boys, and Bude kept at their heels. Bude would score three more converted tries before the half and all but settled the result then. But the Green and Blacks wouldn't give up going into the second half.

Five minutes into the second half and Withycombe were finally starting to play some rugby. A superb three quarters move saw hands go wide and it was Tom Steer moonlighting on the wing who dived over in Clubhouse Corner to get Withycombes first points to make it 35-5.

Five minutes later and it was Withycombes lineout that was firing on all cylinders. Off the top it went, and another move in the centre saw full back Jack Pugsley put into a hole which Pugsley powered through and made mincemeat of the Bude defence, eventually bundling his way over to notch Withycombes second try, which was converted by Steer to leave it 35-12 to Bude.

Withies tails were up, and some thought there could possibly be points to be had. Bude had their Number 8 sin binned, but Withycombe couldn't make the numerical difference count. Momentum was key, and when Withycombe had it they played well, but too often they weren't clinical enough. The visitors weren't done scoring either, as on 70 minutes some well executed hands saw them go over at Brook End to make it 40-12.

Withycombe would score a try before the final whistle, Tom Counsell going over the whitewash for a final conciliation try, but the game had already been lost, Bude being deserved winners. Withycombe will have to go back to the drawing board, as next week they take on second placed St Ives in Cornwall which is now a must win game which is sure to be another brutal Cornwall and Devon league match.

Although the 1st XV couldn't deliver a victory, Withycombe's 2nd XV went to Bideford and turned them over in their own back yard with a comprehensive 45-5 victory. It's was a complete performance from everyone involved, with the Withy forwards setting the platform to let the backs run wild. Harry Symons was 100 percent with the boot, kicking all six of his conversions on the day. Try of the game came from a quick tap under their own posts from Lee Tanton, who passed to Adam Morris, the utility scrum half putting in a deft cross field kick for winger Tim Lombard to get on the end of and run in the try from his own half! Withycombe 2nds are back in action this weekend as they welcome Torquay to Raleigh Park where they'll be hoping to get their second win in as many weeks.