Western Counties West

Bude 31

Tavistock 20

TAVISTOCK's defeat at Bude saw them come away with a four try bonus point which should see them safe from relegation.

The match was a feisty affair played on a bone hard pitch. For the first 15 minutes the visitors could not get their hands on the ball and the home side rattled up a 17 point lead following two tries and a penalty.

An early injury to Tavistock's Dan Oner ended his participation in the match and meant some reorganisation. Tavistock were now getting some possession and good runs from Ben Hadfield, Kyle Browne and Dougie Lloyd put pressure on the home defence. Tavistock came back into the game after the ball was worked across and Ross Batten set up a maul which was driven over with front row Lloyd James getting the touchdown.

Tavistock lost another player as scrum half Ewan Smith suffered a dislocated shoulder as he hit the hard ground.

Both sides were both having problems keeping possession but then a scrum ten metres out led to Tavistock's second try as the ball was fed out enabling Dougie Lloyd to go over for the try.

Early in the second half Tavistock closed the gap with another score. A Bude clearance was taken by Willy Gibbs just inside his own half and his surging run through several tackles enabled him to get into the 22 yard line where his offload enabled Dougie Lloyd to go over for his second try.

Tavistock were now right back in the game and things went further their way as the opposition number eight received a red card for an off the ball incident. However, they then lost flanker Hallam Bourton to injury.

Bude increased their lead as a Tavistock 22 dropout went wrong and they picked up to go over for a try. This was followed by another try as their centre took the ball at pace to run through and touchdown under the posts.

Tavistock were still eager for a try bonus point. This duly came as Bude cleared a five metre scrum into touch. From the resulting lineout, after a series of rucks, the forwards drove over with Mark Friend getting the vital touchdown.