Teams 
Bideford Quins, fresh from a commanding 71–7 win over local rivals Barnstaple (we won’t dwell on that…), made the short trip for their second derby clash against Bude.
With confidence high, the Quins made only a handful of enforced changes to the line-up, sticking largely with the side that delivered the big result the week before.
The first half set the tone. The forwards relentlessly drove into Bude’s pack, gradually slowing them down and creating the space needed for the backs to take control. At fly-half, Freddy Palmer orchestrated the game superbly, directing both forwards and backs with precision.
It’s impossible to detail every try, but the scoresheet tells the story. Crossing the line were:
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Kai Pett (3)
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Zack Powell
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Ethan Davies
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Brodi Brennan-Wilson
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Will Bliss
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Reece Pearn
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Danny Braddick
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Hector Kuenzler-Byrt
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Arthur Souch
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Sam Picillo
Conversions: Freddy Palmer (3), Mitch Harris (1).
The Quins’ trys were built on teamwork, sharp support lines, strong running, and excellent ball movement. Reece Pearn impressed throughout, while Will Bliss worked tirelessly up front. In the lineout, Danny Braddick proved a constant threat, disrupting almost every Bude throw and stalling their attacking platform.
And then there was Kai Pett, whose three well-worked tries included the biggest hand-off of the day. But the real question remains… did he buy a jug for his hat-trick afterwards?
Match Report: Bideford Colts vs Crediton
The Colts travelled to Crediton for their second Merit Table fixture of the season. Injuries and absences forced a reshuffle, with changes in the front row and a brand-new midfield partnership.
Crediton came out with a traditional, forward-dominated game plan, powered by what must be the largest pack in the county. It made life difficult for Bideford, as the home side kept possession well and hammered away with wave after wave of attack. The Biddy defence stood strong, but eventually the pressure told.
Despite being up against a huge Crediton pack, Bideford’s forwards, many of them first-year Colts, punched well above their weight, holding firm in the scrums and never taking a backward step. The visitors created some superb field positions but couldn’t quite convert them in the red zone, and Crediton went into half-time four tries up.
With the slope and a swirling breeze in their favour after the break, Bideford looked to fight back. The boot of Billy Williams-Rice pinned Crediton deep, and from a break by Charlie Corner, hooker Alfie Richards crashed over for a determined try. Charlie Ackland added the conversion to bring the score to 7 points.
A yellow card for dangerous rucking left Bideford down to 14, and Crediton, backed by a deep bench, took advantage to add a couple more tries, sealing a 36–7 win.
Despite the scoreline, this was a brave and stoic performance from the Colts. They never dropped their heads, met the challenge head-on, and left with plenty of positives to build on, not least the need to sharpen up at the lineout.
Notable mentions:
- George Evans, Alfie Richards, and Will Moseby—stepping up at short notice to form the front row and performing superbly under pressure.
- Man of the Match: Alfie Richards, for his tenacity, relentless work rate, and try-scoring effort.
Upwards and onwards—next stop, Sidmouth at home in Round Three.
