A LATE try from Penryn's replacement wing Charlie Parsons finally killed off Bude's hopes of a fourth consecutive league victory in a 10-try thriller at Bencoolen Meadow on Saturday.

With three of their regular back division unavailable and left wing Adam Lovejoy also still out nursing a broken hand, the Seasiders were forced to make a number of changes, both positional and in personnel as Ben Tharme and Olly Mounce came in in the backs, while hooker Harvey Cholwill returned, as did lock Fred Saxton.

The game started at a terrific lick and within two minutes the Borough were ahead as ‘catch-and-drive’ was finished off by scrum-half Sam Hewitt. Jack Dunstan converted. However, within two minutes Bude were level with an almost copybook move that saw No.8 Joe Wilson cross for his 10th try of the season as Olly Denford added the extras.

Then, just short of the 25-minute mark, the visitors went in front once more with a long-distance effort from left-wing Ross McKnight after Bude's cover defence were caught short of numbers out wide. Dunstan was unable to convert from the touchline, but Penryn led 12-7.

However, that lead was again short lived as on the half-hour a slick move off quick line-out ball saw skipper Finley Fry and Wilson combine to put Hilliam-Cooke in for the hosts' second try. Denford was again on target to add the extras and the Seasiders led by two points, an advantage they held at the break.

As with the opening period, the second half started with a flurry of points, and again it was the visitors who struck first. Another long-distance effort from first phase possession off a set scrum, this time from right wing Matt Hall, caught Bude cold.

However, on the 50-minute mark, Wilson claimed his second try of the day from close-range after a powerful surge from Saxton had caused the initial damage. This time Denford's conversion attempt drifted wide of the uprights, but the Seasiders were 19-17 to the good.

With play switching rapidly from end-to-end, a second try from McKnight in the 53rd minute, well-converted by Dunstan, gave Penryn the edge once more. Then, on the hour mark, came the defining moment of the match. When the home side were penalised for pre-engagement at a scrum, from the resulting free-kick outside-centre Miles Quick broke through and rounded to dot down under the posts for the simplest of kicks for Dunstan.

Now chasing a 12-point deficit, Bude regrouped, and following a period of sustained pressure in the visitors' 22, Fry forced his way over from close-range to bag his side's bonus-point. Denford cut the lead to five.

However, Penryn had the last laugh as Dunstan slotted a penalty to go eight points ahead, a cushion they then extended with Parsons’ try four minutes from time.

Bude head to Perranporth on Saturday (2.30pm), while the seconds welcome Redruth Albany in Counties Three Cornwall (2.30pm) and the Colts host Camborne (kick-off not confirmed when going to press). The ladies have no game.

BUDE: Ollie Rowland; Edy Hilliam-Cooke, Ben Tharme, Olly Denford, Josh Rowland; Brad Thomas, Olly Mounce; Alex Robinson, Harvey Cholwill, Anthony Kennett; Will Hockridge, Fred Saxton; Finley Fry (capt), Matt Maniglia, Joe Wilson. Replacements: Olly Ridley, Stan Waters, Lewis Jones, Callum Johns.

Tries: Wilson (2), Hilliam-Cooke, Fry; Convs: Denford (3); Pens: N/A.