BUDE head coach Sam Parker is targeting the Seasiders’ first away win of the season on Saturday when they visit St Austell Seconds in Counties Two Cornwall (2.30pm).

The North Cornwall outfit were beaten late on by title favourites Camborne Seconds last time out, a result which leaves them 13 points behind the table-topping Cherry and Whites.

Reflecting on the Camborne reversal, Parker said: “As you can imagine the lads were crushed after the game, we had done a lot of work in training in preparation and saw it as our biggest risk to our undefeated home goals. On the day I believe that the whole team can hold their heads high and say that we put in an honest shift against a team that in reality should be several leagues higher.

“I was pleased with our line-out and our backline were outstanding.

“I’d like to give a special mention to fly-half Brad Thomas who was playing with an injured leg and Eddy Cooke who was a true force on the wing. Our scrum was also perhaps the best I have seen this season considering the quality of of our opponents.

“We still have work to do but we are finding the right personnel in the right position now.

“We fought for 80 minutes but their organisation and fitness told at the end of the day and a few questionable decisions made the scoreline look better for them than it should have. But we learnt a lot from that game and will only continue to get better.”

The Seasiders have lost at Liskeard-Looe and Helston so far, and can ill-afford another setback at a St Austell Seconds side who have some dangerous players and youth looking to force their way into the first team picture.

Parker continued: “Looking ahead to Saturday, we are looking to get our away winning streak going.

“The disappointment of Camborne and a week off should have the team fired up and ready.

“We have a good run-in to Christmas with three away and two home games, and I expect us to win them all.

“Whilst we currently sit just above St Austell in sixth, we have conceded far less points and I feel our defence will be the deciding factor.

“We know we can defend and we know we can score tries, we just need to turn the screw and start putting games to bed early.”

With Camborne having an embarrassment of riches, Parker knows they might be playing to be the ‘best of the rest’, and feels it’s achievable.

He continued: “Looking at the table I am disappointed that we are not higher, but we have plenty of season left and I feel we are in good stead for a second or third-placed finish.

“We still have small margins to improve on and we have plenty of new tricks to bring out of the bag before we are done, and we are more than capable of finishing in the top three.”