Barnstaple U16s 3

Okehampton U16s 38

OKEHAMPTON won their eleventh game in a row on Sunday.

Home side Barnstaple were much improved from the pre-Christmas game, particularly in defence.

Okehampton were denied possession in the first ten minutes and Barnstaple opened the scoring with a penalty.

Okehampton then began to dominate and took the lead with two Herrod-Taylor penalties after Cox and Bolt took play upfield.

Wings Hutchins and Clarke were dangerous with strong runs, and centre Woods drove through the defence, making good yardage without losing possession. Excellent distribution by the half backs kept the game flowing with a variety of moves. Okehampton strung multiple phases together before Stewart Down held up the defence and put Herrod-Taylor in for the opening score with a perfect short ball.

Another penalty left the score at 16-3 at the break.

Okehampton?s superior fitness began to show in the second half with quick ball being moved everywhere. A breakout from defence led to Cox touching down after brilliant individual play from Down.

Pressure from Okehampton?s backline saw a loose ball hacked on with Bolt outpacing the defenders to control the ball and score in the corner.

The forwards were superb both at set-piece and in the loose. Bird, Hudson and Searle with West and Turner were the front five with Cox, Lawrence and Brookes forming the loose trio.

Mortimore and Beardon played in the second half with enthusiasm, Beardon driving the ball carrier backwards in the tackle, despite the disparity in weight. The whole backline kept the opposition shackled. never allowing a break. Increasing in confidence, Okehampton spun the ball wide from a penalty in the 22, instead of taking the kick at goal. They were rewarded with Sizmur squeezing in at the corner for an excellent try.

Barnstaple had a period of pressure in the last quarter, crossing the Okehampton line on three occasions, but Cox was always under the ball to deny the try.

Ball was then turned over and Okehampton cleared from defence. In the dying minutes a scrum ten metres from the home try-line was run to the blind side in a set move with Herrod-Taylor powering his way to the line.