BUDE head coach Sam Parker feels tonight’s Cornwall Clubs Cup semi-final at home to Liskeard-Looe (7.30pm) will be a true test of ‘how far we have improved’.

The Seasiders face their Counties Two Cornwall rivals on the Stade de Marsh pitch, with a place in the final up for grabs against either Helston or Perranporth.

Bude go into the game in fine fettle after beating Perranporth twice in the space of four days.

They won the home clash 27-0 which was mutually finished early, before a 19-7 success at the Droop on April 1 left them in pole position to finish third.

Parker said: “Last Wednesday was possibly one of our best performances of the season. Having hosted a weakened Perranporth team on Saturday we knew that we were going to be facing a very different team in midweek, and we were not wrong. The team was younger, fitter and faster and having conceded an early try, we came back and put out an incredible defensive performance.

“The pitch was very wide and we knew their tactic would be to get outside us and stretch our defence, but we had prepared for this and managed the game extremely well.”

He continued: “The score does not reflect how close it was, and Perranporth have a slightly better defensive record to us, so we wanted to prove a point.

“It was a shame not to get the try bonus-point but we knew that patience was key, we learnt from previous matches not to force the game and can take solace in the fact that we denied them any points.”

Parker’s attentions are now on tonight, adding: “We are aware of their strengths and the dangers that they pose across the pitch having both won one this season. We have worked hard to match them up front and this will be a true test of how far we have improved this year.”

Bude name a near full-strength team although they are without the influential Joe Wilson and Oscar Davey, the latter who was sent-off last Wednesday night. Fraser Martyn makes a rare appearance and starts in the second row, while Davey’s place on the left wing goes to Josh Rowland. The Seasiders are able to name six replacements as opposed to the usual four for a league game.

BUDE: Will Pharo; Cobi Yelland, Ed Hilliam-Cooke, Olly Denford, Josh Rowland; Brad Thomas, Ollie Rowland; Anthony Kennett, Harvey Cholwill, Hayden Chater; Fraser Martyn, Will Hockridge (capt); Finley Fry, Matt Maniglia, Fred Saxton. Replacements: Charlie Firman, Alex Robinson, Freddie Allan, Olly Mounce, Charlie Watton, Adam Lovejoy.