Bude welcome fourth-placed Tavistock to Bencoolen Meadow this afternoon (2.30pm) hoping to bounce back from their 32-10 defeat at leaders Kingsbridge 13 days ago.

The Seasiders had beaten fellow strugglers Falmouth and Wiveliscombe in their previous two outings, and are crucially a point above the bottom two.

Tavistock have had a superb start to the season following promotion, winning four and drawing one of their seven outings, although have stuttered against the strugglers away from home.

However they score points at will, so Bude’s defence will need to be at their top of the game to deny a Moorlanders side that average 32 points per game.

That said, besides the bottom four, they have conceded the most so Bude know they can be got at.

Bude have to do without prop Chris Allin, but Matt Williams returns, as does skipper Freddie Saxton who will line up in the second row alongside Will Hockridge, and outside-centre Ed Hilliam-Cooke.

Influential centre Ryan Butler and veteran lock Will Kingdon aren’t involved.

As part of the double-header at Bencoolen Meadow on Saturday, Bude Ladies were scheduled to welcome their Totnes counterparts in Women’s NC 2 South West (West) before the men’s got underway, however Totnes have postponed the game due to a lack of players

BUDE v Tavistock: Will Pharo, Zerran Hammond, Ed Hilliam-Cooke, Olly Denford, Patrick Marks, Harry Dymond, Charlie Watton; Fraser Martyn, Rory Mead, Matt Williams, Freddie Saxton (capt), Will Hockridge, Ben Tharme, Finley Fry, Ben Hancock. Replacements: Martin George, Rory Hodges, Jordan Hill.

Other Counties One Western West fixtures: Bideford v Plymstock Albion Oaks, Falmouth v St Ives, Kingsbridge v Paignton, Penryn v Pirates Amateurs, Tiverton v Wiveliscombe