Teams 
Withycombe 14–26 Bideford RFC
Trys: Harry Bloodworth, Sam Picillo, Joey Faulkner, Sam Bola
Conversions: Louis Atkinson (3)
MOM- Harry Bloodworth and Liam Balsdon
Bideford RFC made it three consecutive away trips as they travelled to face Withycombe, and this time it was third time lucky for the Chiefs as they returned home with a hard-earned 26–14 victory.
With injuries mounting, Biddy called upon the old guard, with Richard Weston returning to the starting line-up. He certainly put in a shift for a 62-year-old! Joking aside, Richard made an immediate impact, helping the pack establish dominance in the scrums from the outset.
Credit must also go to Withycombe, who showed real class by agreeing to an early kick-off to help Bideford get back in time for the club’s huge MND charity game, raising funds for club friend Lewis Moody’s chosen charity. Hopefully, the couple of crates went some way towards thanking the Withycombe lads for their understanding.
The game began at a furious pace, with Withycombe applying immediate pressure and looking to capitalise on every Bideford mistake. The Chiefs, however, responded with some stern defensive work, putting their bodies on the line from the opening whistle. Harry Bloodworth was among those leading the charge, putting in some big hits early on.
Bideford’s work at the line-out is clearly beginning to pay dividends, with some excellent competition in the air and particularly impressive maul defence. Withycombe enjoyed several opportunities deep in Bideford territory, but that final piece of attacking execution just wouldn’t come. Having spent much of the opening half in Biddy territory, the home side will have been frustrated not to come away with points.
Bideford, meanwhile, made their visit to the opposition 22 count.
The Chiefs’ backs were beginning to find their feet, with Kai Pett carrying powerfully through the middle and Fred Fishleigh providing excellent support. Louis Atkinson continued to settle into the fly-half role, showing good tactical awareness and managing the game well.
Bideford won a penalty in front of the posts but opted to kick to the corner in search of a try. When the line-out throw failed to go straight, Withycombe were awarded the scrum. The Bideford pack weren’t about to let that opportunity slip away, however, and responded with a huge shove that disrupted the Withycombe ball and won the Chiefs another scrum.
From there, the backs were given a platform to attack. A beautifully executed decoy move created the space, and Harry Bloodworth powered over the line for the opening try of the afternoon. Louis Atkinson added the conversion.
Withycombe weren’t finished and mounted another extended attack before the break, but once again the Bideford defence stood firm.
Half-time: Withycombe 0–7 Bideford
Bideford came out after the break with real intent. A superb charge-down almost brought an immediate reward, but the ball bounced cruelly for Bloodworth, who couldn’t quite gather it. The message was clear, though: the Chiefs were ready to attack.
A penalty inside their own half gave Atkinson the chance to show off his kicking game, and he found touch just inside the Withycombe 22. The forwards produced their first real demonstration of the driving maul, forcing the home side to commit bodies to the breakdown area and creating space for the backs.
Once again, the Bideford backs delivered. A classy attacking move saw Sam Picillo ghost through the defensive line and race under the posts for the opening try of the second half. Atkinson added the extras to extend the lead.
The Chiefs were now playing with confidence, and another excellent line from Reece Pearn opened up the Withycombe defence. Joey Faulkner was perfectly placed on the inside, as any good scrum-half should be, to take the pass and finish the move. Atkinson converted again.
Next came the forwards’ turn to make their mark. A well-executed catch-and-drive put Bideford on the front foot, with Harvey Beal peeling off the side and carrying two defenders with him. The pack then went to work with a series of determined pick-and-goes, eventually creating the opening for the ever-present Sam Bola to plunge over the line for Bideford’s fourth try.
Atkinson’s third conversion put the Chiefs firmly in control.
To their credit, Withycombe showed tremendous character and refused to let their heads drop. They battled to the very end and were rewarded with the final two scores of the game, bringing their tally to 14 points.
Despite the late response, Bideford had done enough to secure a deserved 26–14 victory, built on a strong defensive foundation, dominant set-piece work and some excellent attacking rugby after the break.
It was a fantastic game to be part of, played in a great spirit against a competitive Withycombe side who battled right to the final whistle.
A big thank you once again to Withycombe for their understanding over the early kick-off. The Chiefs can now look back on a successful third consecutive away trip, with plenty of positives to take into the next fixture.
Fast Start, Frustrating Finish for Bideford Colts
Bideford Colts 17–20 Kingsbridge
Tries: Harry Parker (2), Archie Johns
Conversion: Finn Potter
Man of the Match: Freddie Allebone Parish
Bideford Colts suffered their first defeat of the season as Kingsbridge fought back from 17 points down to snatch a 20–17 victory in a frustrating afternoon for the young Chiefs.
Having made an unbeaten start to the campaign, the Colts looked determined to continue that run, racing into a commanding lead inside the opening 20 minutes. But rugby can be a cruel game, and despite a superb start, Bideford were left to reflect on a second half in which penalties, discipline and a late twist proved costly.
Bideford could hardly have asked for a better start. Playing with confidence and attacking intent, the Colts raced into a 17–0 lead thanks to two tries from Harry Parker and a superbly constructed third finished by Archie Johns.
Parker opened the scoring with a well-worked pick-and-go, showing excellent awareness and determination to get over the line. He was soon back on the scoresheet, finding himself with a simple finish from five metres out to grab his second try of the afternoon and put Bideford firmly in control.
The third try was the pick of the bunch. Charlie Corner made a powerful break, drawing in the Kingsbridge defence and creating the space out wide. With the defence committed, the ball was moved through the hands at just the right time, allowing Archie Johns to exploit the gap and dart over to complete a fantastic team move.
At 17–0, the Colts had laid down a serious marker. Their attacking play was sharp, their support lines were effective, and Kingsbridge looked to have a mountain to climb.
But the game was far from over.
Despite Bideford’s commanding start, the first half had a frustrating undercurrent. The Colts felt that repeated defensive efforts were being penalised, allowing Kingsbridge opportunities to stay in the contest when Bideford had otherwise worked hard to keep them at bay.
Those frustrations carried into the second half, as the penalty count and disciplinary setbacks began to have a significant impact on the game.
Charlie Morris had barely been on the pitch for a matter of minutes before he was shown a yellow card, leaving Bideford temporarily down to 14 players. Harry Parker was subsequently sent to the sin bin as well, leaving the Colts with just 13 men at a crucial stage.
Kingsbridge took full advantage of their numerical superiority. As the Bideford players tired, unforced errors began to creep into their game, and the visitors steadily chipped away at the lead.
What had looked like a comfortable afternoon for the Colts became an increasingly difficult battle. To their credit, Kingsbridge showed real determination to claw their way back into the contest, eventually drawing level at 17–17.
For Bideford, the challenge was now to hold their nerve and find a way to close out a game that had looked firmly in their hands.
With the scores level and time running out, the Colts were left frustrated by a decisive late penalty.
The referee adjudged that a Bideford player had not legally contested for the ball at the breakdown. The decision was met with visible frustration from the home side, particularly given how the incident appeared on a subsequent viewing.
That frustration boiled over, and the resulting reaction brought a further 10 metres of territory for Kingsbridge, putting their kicker in an even better position to attempt the decisive shot.
The Kingsbridge kicker made no mistake, slotting the kick in difficult conditions to edge the visitors ahead 20–17.
There was little time left for Bideford to respond, and the final whistle confirmed a narrow defeat that will undoubtedly sting after such a promising opening.
There is no disguising the disappointment of letting a 17-point lead slip, particularly after the quality of the Colts’ opening 20 minutes. The attacking rugby on display showed exactly what this group is capable of when they play with confidence, support one another and execute their opportunities.
However, the second half also highlighted areas that need attention. Discipline, composure under pressure and cutting out basic errors will all be important talking points at training this week.
The frustration of the final decision is understandable, but the Colts must now focus on what they can control. Honest conversations, hard work on the training pitch and a collective response are needed if the team is to turn this disappointment into progress.
The unbeaten run may have ended, but the season is far from defined by one result. The Colts have already shown their potential. Now it is about learning from a difficult afternoon, putting things right and coming back stronger.
Final score: Bideford Colts 17–20 Kingsbridge.
