Okehampton Thirds 10

Exmouth Thirds 3

EXMOUTH used their heavy mobile pack to set up rolling mauls then tried to punch holes in the Okehampton defence with their back row.

Okehampton had difficulty controlling the mauls but tackling around the fringes and in open play was good. Uncontested scrums were enforced due to Okehampton not having a qualified front row player.

This took some edge off the game, but ensured both sides won their own ball in the scrum. The lineout was fully contested, with Okehampton just about coming out of this having the better of the opposition; Peter Hodge taking some good ball, especially in the second half.

With the Okehampton pack struggling to win loose ball, Exmouth were quick to the ground to secure the ball, at times illegally going over the top to do this.

This left Okehampton backs with little ball to run at the opposition, but when the Acorns did get ball they looked the more dangerous set of three-quarters.

This proved to be the case when Perry Vallance, playing on the wing, touched down to score.

Solid defence saw Exmouth attacks being finished off and good tactical kicking put Okehampton back in the opposition's half.

The best move of the day led to a good try scored by Adrian Curtis, developed by strong running from the halfway line by Vallance and involving most of the back division.

Turning around 10-0 up flattered Okehampton, but they had made the most out of what little possession they had. Exmouth continued with physical forward tactics, which in the second half led to penalties being awarded to both sides.

Eventually, one of these was within the kicking distance of the Exmouth fly half. Okehampton also had a simple chance to do the same but fluffed the kick.

With 20 minutes remaining the referee deemed an Okehampton player had taken things into his own hands after another Exmouth player had dived over the ball. He sent the player into the sin-bin for 10 minutes. Not long after an Exmouth player was also shown a yellow card.

Okehampton, now on top, kept Exmouth pinned down in their own 22 with tactical kicks.