Teams 
Bideford coach Simon Morrell says his relegation-threatened team has to become a bit more ‘ruthless’ if it is going to clamber out of trouble.
Tiverton came from behind to beat Bideford 18-10 last Saturday, a result that leaves the Torridgesiders bottom of the Western Counties table.
When Bideford were being hammered in the first few weeks of the season, an 18-10 defeat would have felt like a moral victory,
A win over St Austell last time out changed Bideford’s collective mindset and Morrell said that was evident in the dressing room after the Tiverton match.
“We can be pleased with many aspects of that game, notably we were gutted to a man not to come away with a win – that’s a healthy trait,” said Morrell.
“We knew Tiverton would put the squeeze on us up front and that we would have to make the most of our opportunities and in the first half we did just that.
“Unfortunately, and crucially, in the second half we missed six points at the sticks and failed to convert two good chances to score, which clearly mounted the pressure on us.
“When the game had to be won, Tiverton held their nerve and went through the gears and threw everything at us and accumulated the points.”
Pat Sanders kicked a penalty and converted a Sam Olde try for Bideford, who led 10-8 at half tume and were still in front with 15 minutes to go.
Morrell felt the calibre of the performance at Tiverton was a portent of things to come.
“If we can travel for the remainder of the season with that genuine belief and, more importantly, the desire to go out and turn teams over, there is every chance we will come away with one or two results,” said Morrell.
A good one to win would be this Saturday’s home game against Truro, who will be aiming to avoid a third successive defeat.
“We won’t be given points for looking the part and playing nice rugby, it’s time the boys become a bit more ruthless,” said Morrell.
