THE owner of Bowden Hostas in Sticklepath has shown he has a number of strings to his bow, as he helped to referee a charity rugby game held at the home of English rugby, Twickenham. Tim Bowden has been refereeing rugby for two years, and regularly travels as far afield as Salcombe and Ilfracombe to officiate matches. One of Tim's business contacts got in touch with him to see if he wanted to be an assistant referee for a charity match at Twickenham on April 15, between Trentcastle – a combined team of Trentham and Newcastle – and a team from the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Arriving at the stadium at 10am, Tim and the team of referees got changed in the match officials' dressing room, checked the studs of both teams and did the pre-match chat in the England and away changing rooms. Around 500 people came to watch the game, which was organised to support the RFU Injured Players' Foundation, and watched the Lords and Commons team win by 27-17 points Tim said: 'Despite being a Welshman, it was a huge day out and something to remember forever. I'm not quite on the World Cup team yet for next year, but I will treasure the memory.'