Tiverton still top of the table after ‘friendly’

»»TIVERTON remain top of the table in the Counties Western West division after picking-up five points from a walkover awarded to them by Bude.

The North Cornwall side were unable to field a set of front-row forwards that met league regulations and were obliged to forfeit the game.

But Bude sportingly travelled with the players they had available and fulfilled the fixture as a friendly, rather than leave Tiverton in the lurch.

Tiverton took full advantage of the opportunity for some match practice ahead of the promotion run-in by piling-up a 90-0 win over Bude.

By half time the home side led 50-0 with tries going to Matt Reed, Jonny Fairclough, Alex Curtis (two), Ben Bingham (two), Tom Stevens and No 8 Ben Vickery, who was making his 200th first-team appearance.

Jack Sampson (three) and debutant Henry Sellick (two) kicked the conversions.

The second-half became so processional in the direction of the Bude try line that the game was halted after 60 minutes. Tries were added by George Whiting, Aaron Ayre, Sellick (two), Mike Butt and Bingham, whose hat-trick score was the final act of the game.

Sellick kicked five more conversions for a 24-point contribution.

Man of the match went to prop Reed on his 100th outing in a first XV shirt.

Although the game was a friendly, it was the fourth home game in a row that have Tiverton kept a clean sheet.

Pictured after the game are, left to right, Tiverton captain Matt Hague, debutant Henry Sellick, man of the match Matt Reed, and playercoach Will Norton.