Teams 
Bideford Chiefs 31–7 Crediton
Try : Mitch Harris (2), Fred Fishleigh, Jacob Nash, Charlie Stevenson
Conversions: Fred Fishleigh (3)
Bideford Chiefs secured a convincing bonus-point win over Crediton in their second league meeting of the season, delivering an assured performance despite several changes to the line-up.
The hosts started brightly, immediately applying pressure but missing two clear overlap opportunities in a frustrating 10-minute spell. They soon found their clinical edge, crossing twice in the next period and converting one to take control of the contest.
Mitch Harris, returning for his first home appearance since an early-season injury, was outstanding. He took both his trys superbly and was a constant threat in open space. The back three looked dangerous throughout, with Jack Balsdon and Charlie Stevenson consistently making ground in attack while remaining solid defensively.
A new half-back pairing of Jacob Nash and Sam Griffin proved highly effective. Griffin produced a moment of magic with a perfectly weighted chip over the top for Fred Fishleigh to gather and score, while Nash delivered a composed, controlled display that earned him Man of the Match honours. His game management was excellent, and he capped his performance with a well-taken try.
Stevenson also added his name to the scoresheet, finishing a superb solo effort after beating two Crediton defenders before touching down under the posts.
Bideford’s set-piece showed marked improvement, particularly in defence. Fraser Priest was exceptional at the lineout, stealing multiple Crediton throws, while Nick Bone impressed in open play with several powerful line breaks.
Special mention goes to Jacob Nash and Ashlee Crouch, who both showed resilience in returning to the field after picking up knocks.
Attention now turns to a much sterner test against Withycombe next week. With injuries beginning to mount, selection will be challenging , but performances like this will give the Chiefs confidence going into a tough encounter.
Quarter Final Win, Forward Control and Backline Flair See Bideford U16s Home
Bideford U16 33–7 Plymstock Albion
Trys: Harry Parker (2), George Morris, Adam Norman, Alexander Todd
Conversions: Finn Booth (4)
Bideford RFC U16s produced a dominant display to overcome Plymstock Albion Oaks, echoing their memorable U14s quarter-final win two years ago.
Both sides looked sharp in the warm-up and, on a dry surface, the stage was set for an open contest. It didn’t disappoint.
Bideford struck first with a well-executed catch and drive, George Morris powering over from close range. The conversion was far from straightforward, but Finn Booth drilled it superbly from wide out. The forwards continued to apply pressure, earning a string of penalties. With advantage in hand, Bideford kept it tight and Adam Norman finished a series of pick-and-drives. Again, Booth added the extras from the touchline.
Out wide, the backs were equally impressive. Oli Cornish and Finn Booth dictated the tempo, mixing their kicking and passing game intelligently. In midfield, Seb Cackett and Riley Lloyd were outstanding defensively, repeatedly halting Plymstock’s momentum with first-class tackling.
There was real depth on the wings. Jake Maund and Archie Johns were solid in the first half, defending well and carrying strongly. After the break, Thomas Reed and Oscar Williams added fresh impetus—Williams with his aggressive running and Reed rock-solid under the high ball. At full-back, Alfie Fisher was a constant attacking threat and controlled territory cleverly with the boot (the ambitious drop-goal attempt perhaps best forgotten!).
Up front, the front five laid the platform. Ed Wensley and John Davenport carried with power, while Henry Davis, Ollie Garnett and Caleb Stanton were dominant at the lineout. The bench made a significant impact: Harland Moore was sharp at the breakdown, Alexander Todd finished a slick backs move in the corner, and Henry Hamilton put in several crucial defensive hits.
Harry Parker capped a fine afternoon with two trys, one from a set play and another from close range, but also produced the tackle of the day, shutting down a dangerous overlap to snuff out a Plymstock attack. With Booth converting four from five, the result was secured at 33–7.
Parker deservedly took Man of the Match honours, but this was a superb all-round team performance.
Cup Quarter Final
Bideford U14s vs Torquay
Bideford Under 14s booked their place in the semi final of the cup with an outstanding 51–5 victory over Torquay in a superb quarter-final performance.
With the school holidays and a number of injuries impacting selection, Bideford were only able to field a squad of 15 for the fixture , meaning every single player knew they would be going the full distance with no reinforcements from the bench. It made the pre-match message simple but vital: start strong, play your role, and work for each other.
From the first whistle, the team delivered exactly that.
Defensively, Bideford were immense. The line speed was sharp, tackling was committed, and communication across the pitch ensured Torquay were constantly under pressure. Every player trusted the system and stuck to their responsibilities, creating a solid wall that was difficult to break down.
In attack, the boys were clinical and exciting to watch. Quick ball movement, strong carries, and intelligent support play led to some first-class tries.
It was a complete team performance, built on hard work, discipline, and togetherness, a true example of what can be achieved when everyone pulls in the same direction.
A special mention must go to Zach and Leon, who arrived back from holiday in the early hours of the morning yet still put in huge performances. Their commitment and energy set the tone and epitomised the team spirit on display.
Credit also to Eben and Alfie, who stepped up to play above their usual age group and didn’t look out of place for a second. Both capped their performances with fantastic tries, a brilliant achievement in such a high-pressure game.
With no substitutes and everything to play for, Bideford showed character, resilience, and quality in abundance.
A 51–5 win was fully deserved and sends a strong message as they move forward in the cup competition.
A proud day for the squad, and a performance that truly reflected the strength of the team.
U16 Girls Shine in the Mud with 44–12 Win at Exeter Saracens
A huge well done to our U16 Girls who battled through incredibly tough conditions to secure a superb 44–12 win on the road against Exeter Saracens RFC.
With heavy underfoot conditions and plenty of mud to contend with, this was never going to be a free-flowing contest, but the girls adapted brilliantly. Going down to 13 players at one stage made the challenge even tougher, yet the effort, resilience and teamwork on show were outstanding. They managed the game intelligently, kept their shape, and showed real determination to control the tempo despite the numbers.
Defensively, the commitment was first class. There were some huge tackles across the park and relentless line speed that kept Exeter pinned back for long periods. In attack, the team played direct, supported each other well, and worked hard to win the physical battle.
A special mention to Lily, who got her half game at flanker and took to it superbly, putting herself about in both attack and defence. Aaliyah was dominant throughout, powerful carries, strong defensive reads and real leadership in contact. Congratulations as well to Harriet on her first game. She should be incredibly proud, some excellent tackles and strong, confident runs with ball in hand made it a debut to remember.
Every single player contributed to this result. It was a proper team performance in difficult conditions, and you should all be very proud of yourselves. A fantastic win and a great example of hard work paying off.
