Teams 
Bideford 17- 17 Devonport
Trys – Crouch 2, Pearn
Conversions – Pearn
Bideford made the long bus trip to Devonport Services for a huge former-players day at the Plymouth club, the perfect backdrop for what became a fiercely contested game. Devonport, sitting top of the table, were always going to demand high intensity and defensive aggression from Bideford, and despite traffic delays cutting the warm-up short, sticking to the usual routine left the players focused and fired up. The pitch was a touch heavy after the week’s rain but overall in good condition for a physical battle.
New signing Ash Crouch made an instant impact on his return to Bideford. After the visitors earned a couple of early penalties and secured field position deep in the corner, several strong drives set the platform for Crouch to power over on the blindside for the opening try. From then on, much of the first half saw Devonport camped inside the Biddy 22, but the defensive effort was nothing short of heroic. James Scott, Crouch, Sam Bola, Dean Folland and Fraser Priest flung themselves into every collision, with some tackles echoing across the sidelines. Baz Jones produced one standout moment, driving a DP carrier back nearly ten metres and draining more energy from the hosts’ attack.
Bideford’s second try was arguably a try-of-the-season contender. Fraser Priest hit a superb line, bursting beyond the defence before offloading to Sam Bola, who absorbed contact and flicked a brilliant behind-the-back pass to Dean Folland. Folland drew contact again and released Reece Pearn, who raced under the posts to finish a stunning flowing move. Devonport responded with a converted try of their own, but Bideford showed resilience once more, and it was Crouch again who sniped up the blindside to score beside the posts. At halftime Bideford led 17–14.
Although the match finished 17–17, the second half was far from dull. Only three points were scored after the break, but the quality and intensity remained high throughout. Bideford’s defence continued to stand firm as Devonport ran hard but made little headway. Freddy Palmer and Freddy Fishleigh controlled territory smartly with the boot, while Sam Olde, Jones and Kai Pett defended the wider channels with real discipline. With so many collisions, substitutions were inevitable, and Ethan Paddon, moving from bench to scrum-half to centre, stepped up with several crunching tackles after the loss of James Scott late on, ensuring DP’s midfield remained uncomfortable.
Up front, Rich Weston produced a huge shift covering prop in a squad short on front-rowers, while Nick Bone, George Terry and Dec Smale all contributed strongly in set piece and defence. Bench players Arthur Souch and Ollie Hedden both made positive impacts, with Souch earning the infamous Horse’s Head award from Gaffer Goman. It was a lonely penalty which equalised the scores but in truth both teams deserved the draw.
Overall this was a proud, full-squad effort from players, bench and coaches alike. Against the league leaders, Bideford showed heart, resilience and ferocious defensive commitment, a performance that deserved every bit of the respect it earned.
QUINS TOPPLE LEAGUE LEADERS IN HARD-FOUGHT DERBY WIN
Bideford 25-5 Ilfracombe
Trys – Braddick, Haste, Sanders, Stacey
Conversion – Griffin
Pen – Griffin
Bideford Quins faced league leaders Ilfracombe in a crucial clash for their position in the table. With the Chiefs needing to pull players up late in the week, the squad was stretched and the challenge grew tougher, but the Mighty Quins were more than ready to rise to the occasion.
The scoring was shared across the team with tries from Danny, Greg Haste, Oli Sanders and Reuben Stacey, while Sam “Swifty” Griffin added valuable points from the tee. It’s no exaggeration to say the Quins would have struggled at fly-half without Swifty dusting off his boots and stepping in when the team needed him most.
It was a rewarding and well-earned win for a Quins side that has been in superb form all season. With confidence high and momentum building, they now look forward to the next challenge
Colts
Bideford 12
Crediton 24
If Hippos wallowing in mud is your thing then those who watched the contest on the outside pitch of King George V on Saturday would not have been disappointed. Yes it was time to welcome the gargantuan Crediton Colts to Bideford for a merit table clash.
The endeavours to reduce the size of the outside lakes worked and the ref was happy to play.
What a game! Crediton nestling close to the top of the table and unbeaten had more than a mild shock as they faced a determined, well drilled and disciplined Bideford.
The mantra was to keep possession, frustrate the opposition, hassle and disrupt. They delivered. The scrum despite being significantly smaller was tight and solid and did not falter. The line out was clean despite the grim conditions.
The Bideford 10 Billy Williams- Rice marshalled and controlled field position well, clearing and taking pressure from any squeeze in the 22. He kicked better than he has all season..
Bideford were to score first following an insurgent run from Freddie Allebone-Parish in the midfield , close ruck support and tight phase play Saw lock Charlie Corner pick and touchdown. The conversion was missed. 5 nil up!
It wasn’t long before this was chalked off and the extras added from dominant carrying from the Crediton
hulks. They were difficult to stop once they got rolling. 5-7.
Defiant tackling and disruption from open side Harri Rhodes, bullocking from the Harv Beal saw Bideford begin to assert themselves once more. Time after time they harried and hassled and made significant in roads. Great hands saw us penetrate to the Crediton line once more. Patience and ball retention paid off as Charlie Ackland took his opportunity to break the defence and score. He converted and this took Bideford into half time 12-7.
Crediton to their credit galvanised more in the second half. Some 50:50
Decisions went their way and they squeezed Bideford into their 22 from penalty kick positions. They scored but failed to covert bringing the score equal. Bideford held on and held on but never could exit from their halve to pose a danger.
Wave after wave of attack was soaked up. Bideford needed to play wider but the conditions did not allow.
Oscar Price who was eighteen on the day came off the bench to the wing. His dominant tackles were epic. The boys battled brave but possession and territory was to ultimately cost us another powerhouse try taking Crediton to a 17-12 lead. As the game ebbed away maybe a crumb of a losing bonus point was all we could salvage but this was not to be as an errant pass was gobbled up in the midfield by the Crediton 12 who strolled in to score under the post. Converted. I sensed Crediton relief as the final whistle blew after they kicked out to end proceedings.
The coaches admitted they had been concerned having expected an easier outing to Torridge.
Bideford coaches were incredibly impressed and heaped praise in this ever improving & superb Colts squad.
They ran close but alas needed to find that extra few % to
impose themselves and dominate. Man of the match was awarded to Freddie
In the 12 slot for his carrying, breaking the defensive gain line. In the dying seconds of the game his defiance in making a big shot on the Crediton 8 and Devon U18 player was clear.
Upwards and onwards Bideford Colts.!
Juniors
