FALMOUTH 29pts Tries: E Lawrence (2), T Gay, J Nienaber Penalties: J Instance (3) BIDEFORD 8pts

Try: B Parry

Penalty: O Wickett

Falmouth: T. Somers, T. Gay, A. Palmer, S. Instance, H. Somers, C. McColl, E. Lawrence, J. Doney, T. Spiller, J. Instance, S. Kent, R. Hambly, M. Slater, D. Pellow, J. Greville-Smith. Replacements: R. Warwicker, J. Brown, J. Nienaber.

FALMOUTH continued their excellent start to their Cornwall and Devon League season with an emphatic victory over a strong Bideford side, who admitted that they travelled to Falmouth in the expectation of improving on their narrow loss at the Recreation Ground in the EDF Senior Vase match a few weeks earlier.

In the event they encountered a Falmouth team which combined well in all aspects of play and it was only stubborn defence and over elaborate play by Falmouth which prevented a much heavier defeat for the visitors.

Falmouth's pack was superior throughout the game - solid and imaginative at the set pieces while capable of rampaging in the loose - and the threequarters handled well at speed as they constantly hassled the Bideford line.

Bideford must be congratulated on their willingness to defend throughout the game and to counterattack when the few opportunities arose. This was a fast and exciting game which was handled well by referee Mike Weaver, who was making his first visit to Falmouth.

From the kick-off Bideford exerted early pressure and forced Falmouth on to the defensive, but this was short-lived as the home side broke out with a sweeping handling movement led by Tim Gay and Darren Pellow which was just halted short of the visitors' line. However, it set up the position from which Falmouth pressurised their opponents into mistakes and set up an early advantage. James Instance kicked a penalty awarded for holding on in the ruck and then the Falmouth forwards drove from a lineout for Ed Lawrence to touch down an unconverted try.

After eleven minutes Falmouth were 8-0 up and from then on the home team were rarely threatened such was their control of the game. Bideford's forwards were never really secure enough on their own ball and the whole side looked disjointed as Falmouth launched wave after wave of attacks.

Falmouth's wingers, Steve Kent and Darren Pellow, were kept busy as play moved from side to side after every recycled ball and there were frantic periods of play as forwards and backs exchanged passes in an attempt to find the next try. This would have come but for simple handling mistakes and the desire to make contact rather than exploit the open spaces and consequently Bideford held on in the face of sustained pressure.

The only other scores of the half were an interchange of penalty goals by the respective number 10s, Oliver Wickett and James Instance (2), which gave Falmouth an interval lead of 14-3.

The second half followed the same pattern as Falmouth spread the ball wide with fast and furious broken play involving forwards and backs. Ed Lawrence found his way to the try line once again after 52 minutes and at 19-3 Falmouth were now in command and looking to pull well clear. With a little more emphasis on timing of passes more tries would have come, but against the run of play Bideford showed that they were still awake when they caught Falmouth napping with a quick tapped penalty and replacement Ben Parry ran in an unconverted try.

However, Falmouth were not to be denied in the final quarter as good handling and driving by Justin Doney and Chris McColl set up a try in the corner for Tim Gay and then a flowing threequarter movement from a scrum allowed Mike Slater and Richard Hambly to combine well and send winger Johan Nienaber in for a try on the left to make it 29-8.

Falmouth will hope to build on this excellent performance next Saturday when they entertain Newquay Hornets at 3 pm at the Recreation Ground. Falmouth "A" travel away to Bodmin 2nds.