Brutal Bideford are up and running

Bideford Ladies RFC racked up a superb 33-5 victory to open their home campaign in the league.

Helston have come on leaps and bounds from when last season and Bideford entered the game knowing it was going to be a strong test physically, especially upfront!

In monsoon conditions, Helston kicked off and made it very clear they weren't here to play touch rugby. Some really heavy runs saw Bideford pushed back and put under pressure from the start. After some slippery mistakes, Bideford gave away a lot of penalties, specifically from high tackles.

After 15 minutes of rain and a pummelling from Helston, Bideford finally decided to play rugby the way they know how!

Debutant flanker Catherine Bradborn showed her football pedigree by leathering the ball down the pitch for a lineout. After a series of strong runs, Bideford managed to turn over the ball, releasing the swift hands and strong running of the back row and backs pounding on the door of Helston’s defence before full-back Mia Wray blasted through to score Bideford’s first try, converted by Bradborn!

Bideford struggled to match the early engagements upfront, often being turned over through the tenacity of the Helston forwards. It wasn't all doom and gloom once Bideford decided enough was enough.

Upfront, they started making serious inroads into the opposition’s half, allowing for the backs to do their best and getting Kira May over for her first Bideford try just minutes after replacing Tessa Cleave at 11.

After some strong words from the coaches, straight from the second half whistle, Bideford pinned Helston back, their only relief were some soft penalties on Bideford’s behalf.

Good runs and rucking from Bideford on the halfway line, as fly-half Hannah Lovering-Bright gave a very strong performance and yet again released a torrent of well executed passes, allowing runs from forwards and backs alike, allowing Mia Wray to score her second try, slicing through the defence like nobody was home. Another Bradborn boot saw a second conversion.

As with every team, Helston had something to say about the score line and they forced themselves back into the Bideford 5m. Some brave tackling held strong, and then Michelle Rew - the smallest, loudest lady in the Bideford pack - doing what she always does: all the hard work no-one ever sees and appearing to be under an almost certain try from a rumbling forward! A quick reset saw Helston steal the ball and manage a well-deserved try out wide.

Bradborn and prolific try scorer Ruth Boundy formed a beautiful partnership at times, looking as if they had played together for years. This resulted in Bradborn’s first of which will certainly be many tries this season, from slick hands and her fast turn of pace, as she crashed over the whitewash, and converted.

The pleasing theme of partnerships all over the field continued when Ruth Boundy broke through from a lovely line and perfectly timed a pass to offload to Bradborn, who broke away only to be caught - to then release a pass again to her fellow back rower Boundy who went over, and converted!

For these reasons, both Catherine Bradborn and Ruth Boundy were named as the forwards of the match.

This game showed everything Bideford have been working on, and also showed us the coaches the parts they really need to refine.

One final mention for the back of the match, Steph Senger, who has so far turned centre into her position. After being an all-round menace on the pitch with her thumping tackles (from obviously spending too much time with Brighty at training), she is growing into a force to be reckoned with.

Head coach Gubby had this to say: "So many people in new positions - especially in the forwards - is something I was concerned about against a strong Helston forward side, but they were unfounded once we settled in. I’m enjoying watching the free play people have now to be inventive and look forward to our next game!"

Coming up next: Bideford Ladies are back at home against Bude on Sunday, October 20, holding a total of 69 points over them last season.