Teams 
Topsham 19 – 10 Bideford
Tries: Louis Atkinson; Dave Evans-Pearce / Liam Balsdon
Bideford made the trip to Topsham in testing conditions, with the weather set to dictate the contest, and it duly delivered a scrappy, hard-fought game from start to finish.
With regulars Folland, Crouch and skipper Bone sidelined through injury, Bideford were forced to reshuffle but still managed to field a competitive side. Following severe weather warnings and flooding across the country, there were question marks over the pitch, with several areas holding surface water. However, after inspection, it was agreed the game would go ahead.
With Topsham’s first-team fixture called off, the hosts were able to draft in a wealth of experience, and they struck first. A long kick deep into Bideford territory forced a dropout into the wind, which was overhit. From the resulting five-metre scrum, Topsham’s powerful second row made no mistake, and the conversion gave them an early 7–0 lead.
Bideford suffered an early setback when George Terry popped his shoulder, handing Colt Harrison Rhodes extended game time much earlier than planned.
Despite plenty of rugby being played, conditions ensured it was never pretty. Bideford edged the contact area well, with Fraser Priest, Liam Balsdon, Harrison Rhodes and Dec Smale all putting in huge shifts with ball in hand and in defence. Ollie Hedden was the standout performer for Bideford—relentless in the carry, difficult to bring down, and a constant nuisance for the Topsham defence.
Topsham continued to use the elements intelligently. A skidding ball and a misjudged take by the Bideford defence allowed a straightforward touchdown out wide, followed by an outstanding conversion to extend the lead to 14–0.
In previous seasons, Bideford may have faded at this point, but there was a clear belief within the side. That resilience was noticed by the home support, who were complimentary of Bideford’s response. A flowing backs move ended with Louis Atkinson—who enjoyed an excellent game, powering over in the corner to reduce the deficit.
Fred Fishleigh impressed in midfield with powerful running, sharp lines, and strong hand-offs. One break in particular was halted by a forward-pass call that even the Topsham supporters and coaches could appreciate, such was the closeness of the decision.
At half-time, the message was simple: stay patient, don’t force the game, and continue to play aggressive rugby.
Bideford struck first after the restart. A lineout on Topsham’s five-metre line was spoiled, the ball juggling over the line where both Dave Evans-Pearce and Liam Balsdon got hands on it for the try, narrowing the score to 14–10.
The momentum didn’t last long. Topsham responded with a penalty under the posts but opted for a quick tap. The ball went forward out of hand, more an accidental chip than a knock-on—before rebounding off a Bideford player and into the hands of the Topsham pack, who capitalised to make it 19–10.
Bideford refused to roll over. In the closing minutes, they camped on the Topsham try line, hammering away with pick-and-drives. However, the home defence held firm, eventually forcing a penalty, which Topsham kicked to touch to bring the contest to a close.
A gritty performance in brutal conditions, full of fight and character, even if the scoreboard didn’t quite reflect Bideford’s effort.
Dominant Bideford U16s Brush Off the Rust to See Off Barnstaple
Bideford 32 – 12 Barnstaple
Trys – Harry Parker 2, George Morris, Adam Norman
Cons – Finn Booth 1, Alfie Fisher 2
Pens – Finn Booth1, Alfie Fisher 1
After an eight-week layoff, Bideford Under 16s welcomed local rivals Barnstaple to the all-weather pitch at Kingsley. Despite the lack of match action, training standards had remained high, and while there was some early rustiness, the Bideford lads were clearly fired up for the occasion.
With key backs Seb Cackett and Riley Lloyd unavailable, the backline was reshuffled, while the forwards remained largely unchanged. A late setback saw Olly Garnett withdraw with a shoulder injury, but it did little to disrupt Bideford’s plans.
Bideford dominated the opening quarter, combining physicality with smart game management. Their tactical discipline earned penalty after penalty, and Finn Booth duly opened the scoring with a well-struck three-pointer. The pack continued to impose themselves, and from a quick tap penalty, Harry Parker powered through multiple tackles to score, with Booth converting to extend the lead to 10–0.
The pressure didn’t relent, and Adam Norman was next to cross the line following another well-executed catch-and-drive.
Barnstaple responded just before half-time with a try of their own to narrow the score to 10–5. The break allowed Bideford to regroup, but the message was simple: more of the same—forward dominance and disciplined defence out wide.
The second half followed the script perfectly. Bideford’s maul proved unstoppable, producing two further trys, one from George Morris and another for the tireless Harry Parker, who continued to cause havoc around the park.
There were strong individual performances across the side. Jake Maund impressed with some sharp runs down the flank, while Oscar Williams arguably enjoyed his best game in a Bideford shirt, carrying hard and making ground consistently. Alfie Fisher was at his energetic best, delivering crunching tackles and setting the tone defensively.
Finn Booth and Oli Cornish again controlled proceedings superbly, varying the attack intelligently and using their kicking games to good effect. John Davenport, Ed Wensley and George Morris were all tasked with stepping up and did so without hesitation. Henry Davis was a constant thorn in the Barnstaple lineout, stealing possession repeatedly.
Man of the Match was a tough call given the all-round performance. Forward of the Match went to the outstanding Harry Parker, a dominant force throughout, while Back of the Match was awarded to Alfie Fisher for stepping up when it mattered most.
A strong, composed performance after a long break, one that underlined the squad’s depth, work rate and togetherness.
Under 12s
After a slightly nervous glance at the soggy park pitch this morning, a near-full U12 squad rolled into action to welcome local rivals Barnstaple to the fortress for a big home fixture. With our last outing being in November for the Defender Cup final, it had been a long wait for match day — and this is always a game we want to walk away from smiling.
The boys were fired up early, warming up well and ready to go. The first quarter started a little cagey, but defensively we were superb, first-up tackles, strong organisation, and Barnstaple kept firmly at bay. As confidence grew, the attack clicked into gear and the scoreboard followed. A sharp dart from close range saw Ross crash over for the opener, followed by another well-worked try to finish the quarter two scores up and a clean defensive sheet.
The second quarter was more of the same: rock-solid defence, nothing getting through, and a couple more quality tries added. At halftime, we were well in front and were playing some really good rugby.
Plenty of changes followed to make sure the whole squad got game time, something we’re working hard to balance evenly. It’s always a great “problem” to have when you’ve got a group of talented players champing at the bit on the sideline, desperate to get involved.
The third quarter saw Barnstaple finally break through for their first try, but our heads didn’t drop for a second. Straight from the restart, a brilliant break down the wing led to a full-length, end-to-end try that had everyone buzzing.
From there, the game stayed competitive and entertaining, with both sides running in try’s, Bideford confidently coming out in front with plenty more tries than our opponents. With everyone enjoying the fixture (players, coaches, and spectators alike), we squeezed in a bonus 5-minute fifth period to make the most of it.
Eventually, the final whistle came for real, and two very muddy teams shook hands after a game played exactly how rugby should be, hard, fair, and full of respect, with a few laughs shared at the end.
Every player put in a big shift today, making Man of the Match a tough call. Strong tackling across the whole squad. Ross, Charlie F and Freddie shared fullback/fly-half duties brilliantly, controlling the game well. Scrum-half duties were split between Charlie H, Faf and Xander, all delivering quick ball and moving play beautifully. Big shout-outs too to Billy for outstanding jackling, and Josh, Ronnie and Jack for their powerful running and big hits.
Man of the Match went to Seth, for his constant defensive presence and his ability to keep breaking the game line every time he carried the ball.
Brilliant performance all round , and we go again next week at home as we welcome Withycombe to Victoria Park (pitch permitting!)
Under 7s
U7s travelled to Barnstaple today. Due to all of Barnstaple’s pitches being waterlogged we played on Pilton School’s astroturf pitch. Finding the pitch was a challenge! But all 12 Bideford players arrived just in time for kick off and split into 3 x teams to play against Barnstaple’s 14.
The next challenge was the weather! I am soo incredibly proud of our U7s today! Amazing resilience shown by all. The rain was absolutely biblical at times! Everyone’s hands were frozen! But we got through it!
I have to give a special mention to Spencer.
Q who scored an immense 18 trys today! (Costing his Dad 18 of his hard earned pounds!!) (Not that we keep count 😅).
Under 18 girls:
Bideford Battle the Elements but Fall Short at Topsham
Topsham 19 – 10 Bideford
Tries: Louis Atkinson; Dave Evans-Pearce / Liam Balsdon
Bideford Chiefs made the trip to Topsham in testing conditions, with the weather set to dictate the contest, and it duly delivered a scrappy, hard-fought game from start to finish.
With regulars Folland, Crouch and skipper Bone sidelined through injury, Bideford were forced to reshuffle but still managed to field a competitive side. Following severe weather warnings and flooding across the country, there were question marks over the pitch, with several areas holding surface water. However, after inspection, it was agreed the game would go ahead.
With Topsham’s first-team fixture called off, the hosts were able to draft in a wealth of experience, and they struck first. A long kick deep into Bideford territory forced a dropout into the wind, which was overhit. From the resulting five-metre scrum, Topsham’s powerful second row made no mistake, and the conversion gave them an early 7–0 lead.
Bideford suffered an early setback when George Terry popped his shoulder, handing Colt Harrison Rhodes extended game time much earlier than planned.
Despite plenty of rugby being played, conditions ensured it was never pretty. Bideford edged the contact area well, with Fraser Priest, Liam Balsdon, Harrison Rhodes and Dec Smale all putting in huge shifts with ball in hand and in defence. Ollie Hedden was the standout performer for Bideford—relentless in the carry, difficult to bring down, and a constant nuisance for the Topsham defence.
Topsham continued to use the elements intelligently. A skidding ball and a misjudged take by the Bideford defence allowed a straightforward touchdown out wide, followed by an outstanding conversion to extend the lead to 14–0.
In previous seasons, Bideford may have faded at this point, but there was a clear belief within the side. That resilience was noticed by the home support, who were complimentary of Bideford’s response. A flowing backs move ended with Louis Atkinson—who enjoyed an excellent game, powering over in the corner to reduce the deficit.
Fred Fishleigh impressed in midfield with powerful running, sharp lines, and strong hand-offs. One break in particular was halted by a forward-pass call that even the Topsham supporters and coaches could appreciate, such was the closeness of the decision.
At half-time, the message was simple: stay patient, don’t force the game, and continue to play aggressive rugby.
Bideford struck first after the restart. A lineout on Topsham’s five-metre line was spoiled, the ball juggling over the line where both Dave Evans-Pearce and Liam Balsdon got hands on it for the try, narrowing the score to 14–10.
The momentum didn’t last long. Topsham responded with a penalty under the posts but opted for a quick tap. The ball went forward out of hand, more an accidental chip than a knock-on—before rebounding off a Bideford player and into the hands of the Topsham pack, who capitalised to make it 19–10.
Bideford refused to roll over. In the closing minutes, they camped on the Topsham try line, hammering away with pick-and-drives. However, the home defence held firm, eventually forcing a penalty, which Topsham kicked to touch to bring the contest to a close.
A gritty performance in brutal conditions, full of fight and character, even if the scoreboard didn’t quite reflect Bideford’s effort.
Dominant Bideford U16s Brush Off the Rust to See Off Barnstaple
Bideford 32 – 12 Barnstaple
Trys – Harry Parker 2, George Morris, Adam Norman
Cons – Finn Booth 1, Alfie Fisher 2
Pens – Finn Booth1, Alfie Fisher 1
After an eight-week layoff, Bideford Under 16s welcomed local rivals Barnstaple to the all-weather pitch at Kingsley. Despite the lack of match action, training standards had remained high, and while there was some early rustiness, the Bideford lads were clearly fired up for the occasion.
With key backs Seb Cackett and Riley Lloyd unavailable, the backline was reshuffled, while the forwards remained largely unchanged. A late setback saw Olly Garnett withdraw with a shoulder injury, but it did little to disrupt Bideford’s plans.
Bideford dominated the opening quarter, combining physicality with smart game management. Their tactical discipline earned penalty after penalty, and Finn Booth duly opened the scoring with a well-struck three-pointer. The pack continued to impose themselves, and from a quick tap penalty, Harry Parker powered through multiple tackles to score, with Booth converting to extend the lead to 10–0.
The pressure didn’t relent, and Adam Norman was next to cross the line following another well-executed catch-and-drive.
Barnstaple responded just before half-time with a try of their own to narrow the score to 10–5. The break allowed Bideford to regroup, but the message was simple: more of the same—forward dominance and disciplined defence out wide.
The second half followed the script perfectly. Bideford’s maul proved unstoppable, producing two further trys, one from George Morris and another for the tireless Harry Parker, who continued to cause havoc around the park.
There were strong individual performances across the side. Jake Maund impressed with some sharp runs down the flank, while Oscar Williams arguably enjoyed his best game in a Bideford shirt, carrying hard and making ground consistently. Alfie Fisher was at his energetic best, delivering crunching tackles and setting the tone defensively.
Finn Booth and Oli Cornish again controlled proceedings superbly, varying the attack intelligently and using their kicking games to good effect. John Davenport, Ed Wensley and George Morris were all tasked with stepping up and did so without hesitation. Henry Davis was a constant thorn in the Barnstaple lineout, stealing possession repeatedly.
Man of the Match was a tough call given the all-round performance. Forward of the Match went to the outstanding Harry Parker, a dominant force throughout, while Back of the Match was awarded to Alfie Fisher for stepping up when it mattered most.
A strong, composed performance after a long break, one that underlined the squad’s depth, work rate and togetherness.
Under 12s
After a slightly nervous glance at the soggy park pitch this morning, a near-full U12 squad rolled into action to welcome local rivals Barnstaple to the fortress for a big home fixture. With our last outing being in November for the Defender Cup final, it had been a long wait for match day — and this is always a game we want to walk away from smiling.
The boys were fired up early, warming up well and ready to go. The first quarter started a little cagey, but defensively we were superb, first-up tackles, strong organisation, and Barnstaple kept firmly at bay. As confidence grew, the attack clicked into gear and the scoreboard followed. A sharp dart from close range saw Ross crash over for the opener, followed by another well-worked try to finish the quarter two scores up and a clean defensive sheet.
The second quarter was more of the same: rock-solid defence, nothing getting through, and a couple more quality tries added. At halftime, we were well in front and were playing some really good rugby.
Plenty of changes followed to make sure the whole squad got game time, something we’re working hard to balance evenly. It’s always a great “problem” to have when you’ve got a group of talented players champing at the bit on the sideline, desperate to get involved.
The third quarter saw Barnstaple finally break through for their first try, but our heads didn’t drop for a second. Straight from the restart, a brilliant break down the wing led to a full-length, end-to-end try that had everyone buzzing.
From there, the game stayed competitive and entertaining, with both sides running in try’s, Bideford confidently coming out in front with plenty more tries than our opponents. With everyone enjoying the fixture (players, coaches, and spectators alike), we squeezed in a bonus 5-minute fifth period to make the most of it.
Eventually, the final whistle came for real, and two very muddy teams shook hands after a game played exactly how rugby should be, hard, fair, and full of respect, with a few laughs shared at the end.
Every player put in a big shift today, making Man of the Match a tough call. Strong tackling across the whole squad. Ross, Charlie F and Freddie shared fullback/fly-half duties brilliantly, controlling the game well. Scrum-half duties were split between Charlie H, Faf and Xander, all delivering quick ball and moving play beautifully. Big shout-outs too to Billy for outstanding jackling, and Josh, Ronnie and Jack for their powerful running and big hits.
Man of the Match went to Seth, for his constant defensive presence and his ability to keep breaking the game line every time he carried the ball.
Brilliant performance all round , and we go again next week at home as we welcome Withycombe to Victoria Park (pitch permitting!)
Under 7s
U7s travelled to Barnstaple today. Due to all of Barnstaple’s pitches being waterlogged we played on Pilton School’s astroturf pitch. Finding the pitch was a challenge! But all 12 Bideford players arrived just in time for kick off and split into 3 x teams to play against Barnstaple’s 14.
The next challenge was the weather! I am soo incredibly proud of our U7s today! Amazing resilience shown by all. The rain was absolutely biblical at times! Everyone’s hands were frozen! But we got through it!
I have to give a special mention to Spencer.
Q who scored an immense 18 trys today! (Costing his Dad 18 of his hard earned pounds!!) (Not that we keep count 😅).
Well done today Under 18 girls a very even game of rugby with two good teams battling hard against each other.
Some fantastic defence and tackling throughout the game by everyone. Fantastic result to win in the end showing some real determination and putting bodies on the line. Well done to those impact players who made a real difference and help keep energy levels going.
As said after forward of the game went to Grace some excellent scrumaging and physical carries through the game. Special mentions to all though as everyone of the forwards carried hard tackled well.
Back of the game was Lily some great tackles and running in a very physical game. Again could have been anyone in backs.
Enjoy the rest of your afternoon/evening girls and again well done for today a very physical game and came down right to the end.
Match Report: Truro vs Bideford Ladies
Bideford Ladies travelled to Truro with a reduced squad of just 14 players and faced a tough challenge away from home. Despite the scoreline, a 36–0 loss, the team showed real determination and resilience throughout the match.
Against a well-organised Truro side, Bideford worked hard in defence and continued to compete until the final whistle. The players supported one another, maintained their effort, and never stopped battling, a testament to their commitment and team spirit.
With limited numbers and no drop in effort, Bideford Ladies can take pride in the heart and character they displayed on the day.
