Teams 
Bideford U16s opened their season with a tough away fixture against Kingsbridge, the only side to beat them in last year’s cup. This wasn’t about revenge, but rather a chance to measure themselves against strong opposition.
With Bideford yet to play a game and Kingsbridge already three matches in, the hosts struck early. A moment of hesitation from the kick-off saw a maul turned over, and Kingsbridge pounced to score. Gathered behind the posts, the lads agreed it was a one-off mistake, and they weren’t wrong.
From that point on, Bideford showed their class. Finn Booth had a solid game at fly-half, mixing passing, running, and kicking to keep the defence guessing, while his half-back partner Oli Cornish shone with two tries, including a superb interception from halfway. The new centre pairing of Seb Cackett and Thomas Reed gelled quickly in defence, while Alf Fisher impressed at fullback with clever kicking that pinned Kingsbridge back and strong guidance for wingers Jake Maund and Oscar Williams, both of whom made telling runs and tackles.
Kingsbridge looked dangerous with ball in hand, but Bideford’s ferocious tackling put them on the back foot. Up front, the forwards were immense. The front row of Harry Parker, George Morris, and Ed Wensley earned praise from the referee for their strength and work rate. Adam Norman caused havoc at the breakdown with turnovers and counter-rucks, while Henry Davis dominated the lineout, disrupting Kingsbridge throughout. Riley Lloyd, Caleb Stanton, and Henry Hamilton all grew into the game, making strong tackles and linking well in open play, Riley especially standing out in the loose.
The bench added real impact too. Harland Moore, Theo Rowe, and Billy Howard all slotted in seamlessly, keeping standards high. On debut, John Davenport made a huge impression, an absolute wrecking ball with some massive tackles and powerful carries that lifted the team and the crowd alike.
The only downside to the day was a Kingsbridge player being injured and taken off the pitch to Hospital for checks. Everyone at Bideford wishes him a speedy recovery.
Scorers:
- Tries: Harry Parker, Seb Cackett, Oli Cornish (2)
- Conversions: Finn Booth (3)
- Forward of the match – John Davenport
- Back of the Match – Oli Cornish
A fantastic start to the season, with plenty of positives to build on.
Bideford U15’s Vs Kingsbridge (Home)
Bideford U15s opened their season at home against a strong, well-drilled Kingsbridge side. For the first 12 minutes there was nothing between the teams—both showing great spirit and putting each other under real pressure.
It was Kingsbridge who broke the deadlock, capitalising with three well-worked tries to take a 21–0 lead. But Bideford hit back before the break with an excellent try of their own, making it 21–7 at half-time and keeping the contest alive.
The second half was a tighter, more even battle. Kingsbridge struck first with a converted try, before Bideford came agonisingly close, only to knock on in the act of scoring. In the closing stages, a quick tap penalty caught the home defence off guard, and Kingsbridge sealed the win with their final try. The game ended 33–7 in favour of the visitors.
Despite the result, the Bideford coaches were full of praise for the effort, determination, and performance shown. With plenty of positives to build on, the match was an encouraging start to the season. Special mention went to the two new boys making their first-ever rugby appearances, both of whom impressed with their commitment and energy.
U13s off to a flying start
Bideford U13s opened the season with a strong squad of 25 players against a well-drilled Kingsbridge side. The game was split into four quarters, with Bideford rotating their line-up each time. Despite the changes, the team maintained a consistent level of performance, winning every quarter and finishing with an emphatic 8–1 victory.
The result highlighted the squad’s depth and teamwork, with Bideford’s solid defence proving a key difference. Alongside that, several sparkling individual performances rounded off a perfect start to the season.
