Bideford aim to continue Western Counties winning run

BIDEFORD will aim to march on in their unbeaten start to the Tribute Western Counties (west) season when they host newly-promoted Honiton on Saturday.

The Chiefs made it four wins out of four at the weekend with an 18-15 win at Exeter Saracens, ending their hosts' 100 per cent start in the process.

And with Honiton, runners-up in last season's Cornwall/Devon division, losing their first four games, Bideford should be confident of a fifth win in a row at King George's Field.

Dave Harris, the Bideford manager, said: "They have just got promoted so we can't take anything for granted.

"We will want a bonus-point win from it but you can't guarantee that."

With the form they have shown so far, you can almost guarantee a Bideford win.

Tries from Matt Dennis (two) and Sam Olde, plus an Olly Wickett penalty, put them clear of Exeter who needed a late try to snatch a losing bonus point.

"The scoreline makes it seem closer than it was, we should have scored 40 points," said Harris.

"There were at least two chances in each half that we should have scored.

"But it was an away win, so we were not disappointed. Any away win is decent in this league.

"Exeter were unbeaten at the start of the day as well, so to take their unbeaten record, we're happy with that."

Dave Slee, Mike Williams and Paul Thomas should return for Bideford but they will be without Adam Crouch and James Buckland.

Richard Norman and Stefan James are injury doubts.