BIDEFORD narrowly lost out in their top-of-the-table battle in the mud at home to St Austell. (Pic www.platinumimages.uk.com)

Barnstaple beat Maidenhead 36-0 in a game of precious few highlights.

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“It was a poor game between two poor sides, but we were less poor than them,” said Barum playing chief Kevin Squire.

Referee Karl Gibson took the unusual step of moving the game to an adjoining pitch after Linford Brock was injured while being tackled.

Maidenhead wing Chris Shepherd was sent off for allegedly tackling Brock off the ball.

Once Brock had been treated at the scene by paramedics and loaded into an ambulance, play reverted back to the original pitch.

Barum were 21-0 up at half time and pulled further away after the break.

The Reds also finished with 14 on the park as lock Matt Gohl was sent off for a dangerous tackle.

James Comber, who only recently arrived from Bude, received a yellow card and was off for 10 minutes.

Barum’s tries were scored by Will Topps (2), Brock, Ryan Carter, Winson James and Luke Berry, who also kicked three cconversions.

It finished 14-a-side as Barum’s Matt Gohl was red-carded for a dangerous tackle.

Barnstaple take a break from league action this weekend to visit Sidmouth in the Devon Cup semi-finals.

The winners will face either Exmouth or Newton Abbot, who have yet to play their semi.

l BIDEFORD appear to be heading for the Western Counties play-offs after losing 21-15 at home to St Austell

Leaders St Austell are favourites to win the division after edging out the only side who can reasonably catch them.

Bideford’s consolation is they will be going to the play-offs as runners-up – unless something goes badly wrong in the last four games. Hooker Chris Snell scored a try hat-trick for Bideford yet still finished on the losing side, which is something you don’t see very often!

Snell’s first try came from a catch-and-drive move.

St Austell had the best of the next 20 minutes and took a 6-5 lead thanks to an Andy Ashwin drop-goal and a Matt Shepherd penalty.

Snell followed up a charge-down to score his second try and give Bidefod a 10-6 lead.

Back and forth it went, with Saints’ Paul Winterbottom scoring from a line-out.

Scott McNulty put Saints back in front with a try and this time they stayed there.

On the hour Bideford lost their own line-out ball with consequences, as Adam Pearce took it in for a St Austell try.

Snell’s late catch-and-drive over couldn’t change the outcome.

Bideford have no game in the league this weekend.

l SOUTH Molton surrendered second place in the Devon One table when they were beaten 45-10 by leaders University of Exeter.

South Molton weren’t as comprehensively beaten as the scoreline suggests. They out-muscled their hosts up front and it took one of the students’ most solid performances of the season to beat their visitors in such fashion.

Molton scored a try in each half through Dominic Stoneman and Simon Murch.

Totnes took over in second place after they defeated relegation worriers Torrington 17-8,

The hosts’ recent form has not been so impressive, although a try from second row Robert Ovenell and a penalty from Bill Ellis kept them in contention at the break.

South Molton were due to play Dartmouth in the Devon Junior Cup this Saturday, but that game has been called off as the Riversiders are struggling to get a team out.