Teams 
In a fiercely contested local derby, the Bideford Chiefs triumphed over South Molton 22-17, in a match that was as combative as it was captivating. Both teams have been in fine form this season, and with the game attracting a sizable crowd and an exciting sponsorship day, the atmosphere was electric.
Rob Patterson, who is set to move to Manchester, delivered an emotional pre-match speech in the changing rooms, rallying the players with his words of encouragement. Some of the warm-up music, however, was a different story—Dirty Dancing blaring over the speakers definitely set a unique tone for the game!
From the outset, the match was evenly poised. Bideford struck first with an exceptional team effort. Mitch Harris made a powerful run down the wing, fending off three defenders before passing to captain Nick Bone, who sprinted into the corner to score. Reece Pearn’s conversion gave Bideford an early 7-0 lead.
South Molton quickly responded, exploiting an overlap and racing down the sideline to equalize, with a perfect touchline conversion to make it 7-7.
Bideford’s forwards, led by Dean Folland, Nick Bone, and Fraser Priest, were dominant in the set-piece and in the loose. Their hard work created the platform for a well-worked try, as Charlie Stevenson finished a slick handling move to give Bideford a 12-7 lead. South Molton came back with a penalty to bring the score to 12-10, and another penalty from Pearn stretched the lead to 15-10.
However, just before halftime, Bideford’s defence faltered, and South Molton capitalised on another overlap, crossing in the corner to take the lead 17-15 at the break, following another impressive touchline conversion.
The halftime break gave the coaches a chance to reset and refocus the team. The message was clear: settle into phases, build momentum, and the points would follow. The second half saw Colt Harvey Beal enter the fray for the injured Richard Norman. Beal’s impact was immediate, winning turnovers and driving Bideford forward.
A penalty miss from South Molton gave Bideford the chance to attack from a goal-line drop-out. Charlie Stevenson made a brilliant run to get within meters of the line, and after the forwards hammered away, Beal crashed over for the game-winning try. Pearn converted to make it 22-17, and that proved to be the final score.
Despite no further points, the game continued to offer exciting moments, with both teams playing attractive, attacking rugby. Bideford’s wingers, Mitch Harris and Charlie Stevenson, were outstanding in defense and attack, and if it weren’t for their efforts, South Molton could have taken the win.
Sadly, Mitch Harris was forced off after a serious head knock, later diagnosed as a broken jaw. He’s undergone surgery, and everyone at the club wishes him a swift and full recovery.
In the end, it was Bideford who emerged victorious in a hard-fought derby, cementing their place as a strong contender in the North Devon league.
Quins Produce Powerful Performance to Overcome South Molton 2s
Bideford Quins turned in a strong display against a determined South Molton 2s side, earning a well-deserved victory built on resilience, patience, and improved discipline as the match progressed.
Playing downhill in the first half, Quins were slow to capitalise on the slope advantage, with early errors preventing any real momentum. Once they settled, however, the tries began to flow. Tim Denford, Reuben Stacey, and Jordan Taylor all crossed the whitewash, with Amos Waters adding two solid conversions. South Molton refused to roll over and hit back with a converted try of their own just before the break, keeping the contest alive at halftime.
The second half saw the slope tilt in Molton’s favour, but Quins rose to the challenge with outstanding defence and excellent ball retention. Their control of possession proved decisive as the scoreboard continued to turn in their favour. Further tries came from Reuben Stacey, Zach Powell, Greg Haste, Caleb Jarrett, and Ethan Davis, with Amos Waters continuing his reliable form from the tee.
South Molton showed huge character throughout, holding up three additional Quins tries over the line—a testament to their determination and never-say-die attitude.
A strong performance all round sets the Quins up nicely for a major test this Saturday as they host top-of-the-table Ilfracombe in what promises to be a cracking fixture.
Bideford U16s Shine in Fisherman’s Cup with Confident Win at Okehampton
Bideford 29-7 Okehampton
Try’s Harry Parker 2, Seb Cackett, Oli Cornish
Conversions – Finn Booth 3
Pens – Finn Booth 1
Bideford’s U16s returned to Okehampton for the Fisherman’s Cup and delivered a composed, clinical performance despite carrying several injuries and fielding a side with players out of position. What could have been a challenging day instead became a showcase of adaptability, focus, and some outstanding individual displays.
From the opening whistle, Bideford were switched on. Instead of their usual slow start, the lads came out firing, dominating the early exchanges. Harry Parker opened the scoring with a powerful pick-and-go from the base of the scrum, crashing over to set the tone.
Next came the now-famous Booth–Cackett midfield move, which has already brought great success this season. Seb Cackett powered through the defence for Bideford’s second try, with Finn Booth converting to make it 12–0. Booth soon added another three points from a well-taken penalty, extending the lead.
Scrum-half Oli Cornish continued to be a constant menace around the breakdown and took his chance perfectly, darting over for Bideford’s third try. Booth added the extras for 22–0. The final Bideford try came from Harry Parker once again, capping off a superb performance at No. 8. Booth slotted the conversion to make it 29–7, the final score.
Across the park, there were standout performances.
- Harry Parker, playing at No. 8, looked completely at home and made a strong case for keeping the shirt.
- Henry Hamilton impressed defensively, while George Morris had an excellent outing at openside.
- In the second row, Harland Moore and Manny Tanner put in big shifts.
- Henry Davis dominated the lineout, stealing at least six throws.
- Alfie Fisher was assured at fullback, and Finn Booth ran the attack superbly with clever delayed passes and accurate kicking.
- Props Jon Davenport and Ed Wensley arguably produced their best performances of the season.
But it was Riley Lloyd, stepping in as a flanker-turned-centre, who earned Player of the Match with a brilliant mix of strong carries and committed defence.
Okehampton played their part too, showing quality in several passages and fully deserving their score. But on the day, Bideford’s focus and execution proved too strong, securing an impressive and well-earned win.
Match Report: Cullompton U14s vs Bideford U14s
Cullumpton 0, Bideford 38.
Bideford U14s travelled away and delivered a strong all-round performance built on structure, width, and outstanding defence.
From the opening whistle, Bideford set the tempo. Their early phases were controlled and disciplined, allowing them to move the ball through the hands and out to the wide channels, where they were rewarded with several well-worked tries. The teamwork and communication in attack were clear to see, with players running good support lines and making confident decisions under pressure.
Cullompton, however, offered real competition at the breakdown. They committed numbers to the ruck and put Bideford under pressure, leading to a few turnovers. A key work-on for Bideford will be ensuring they match that physicality by committing enough players to secure their own ball and maintain momentum through phases.
Defensively, Bideford were exceptional throughout the match. Their line speed, organisation, and commitment resulted in hardly any missed tackles—an impressive feat that set the foundation for their dominance. Every player played their part in shutting down Cullompton’s opportunities and keeping the pressure firmly on the hosts.
Overall, it was a confident, structured, and disciplined display from Bideford U14s. With small improvements around ruck commitment, this group continues to show real promise for the season ahead.
Bideford won the game 38-0. Strong performances across the pitch, but shout outs to Cole White who was a threat all game, scoring a great interception from half way as well as Will Slee who controlled the game brilliantly at 10 and put in a strong defensive performance.
Under 12’s
All 15 available players made the trip to Cullompton for a fixture we haven’t seen on the calendar since the U9s. Playing on the full mini pitch promised plenty of space for our quick backline, though it took us a little while to get going.
The opening stages were sluggish once again, something we’ll continue to work on—getting our heads in the game from the very first whistle is crucial. As the first quarter progressed, the team grew into the match, showing great go-forward with ball in hand and strong defensive commitment. We spent long spells camped inside Cullompton’s 22, but struggled to exploit the wide space available. Moving the ball quicker through the hands will be a key focus going forward.
The first try eventually came, and it looked like that might open the floodgates—but instead, Cullompton hit back with a length-of-the-field effort. The build-up to that try showed a mix of soft tackling, attempts to shepherd players into touch rather than bringing them down, and then a superb last-ditch tackle near the line—easily the tackle of the day—even though it couldn’t quite prevent the score. That moment, however, sparked us back into life, and with minutes left in the quarter, we crossed again to take the lead at the break.
Rotations began in the second quarter, and one of the most encouraging signs of this group is how the performance level stays high no matter who steps onto the pitch. The boys played with intent—running hard, rucking well, and stringing phases together. The tries began to flow and the defensive line stayed solid.
As the game wore on, things grew a little feisty, with some questionable tackling creeping in—at one point Freddy was practically thrown like a discus. Moments like these are where we need to keep our composure and avoid being drawn into anything unnecessary. We’ll talk about that again on Thursday.
But none of this should overshadow the performance. The whole squad played well, with several players putting their hands up for Man of the Match. This week, the award went to Jake, who started quietly but transformed his game across the final three quarters with powerful carries and excellent commitment in the tackle.
A great effort all-round and another strong step forward for the team.
Next up: The Land Rover Cup.
