Western Counties West
Okehampton 26
Kingsbridge 15
KINGSBRIDGE visited the Showfield for the first time in several seasons. Firmly established in Western Counties, and having only lost once all season, they arrived as clear favourites.
Luckily for the plentiful home support, the Okes chose this week to produce their best display since the early part of the season. They produced a manful defensive effort when required, whilst demonstrating plenty of attacking prowess when the chance arose.
Playing up the slope Oke made their first up tackles as the large south Devon pack tested during the early exchanges. It wasn't long though before the home side showed what they could do when they got clean possession. A clearance kick was fielded comfortably and shifted right to winger Rob Fishleigh. He made light of the sticky underfoot conditions as he cut a great line stepping outside then inside on his way under the uprights for a cracking opening score. Fly half mark Scrivener, on home debut after returning to the club where his career began, slotted the extras.
The Okes were unable to gain clean line out ball and were generally on the back foot in the scrums. However, midway through the half, they produced their most solid set piece just inside the visitors' territory and from this scrum the ball was moved to fly half Scrivener. With a lovely show of the ball he fooled the defensive line and made a break into the 22. He was tackled just short, but was able to offload to supporting winger Matt Dennis who crossed for another excellent try that Scrivener converted.
14-0 up, playing up the slope against the title chasers, things were certainly going well as the game moved towards half time. Then things started to go awry. Kingsbridge regrouped, slotted a penalty, then right on the half time whistle right winger Jack Davey crossed in the bottom corner. Scrivener received a knock and was forced to leave the field at the interval.
Credit to the young home side then when they showed a will to win in the second period that brings victories in tight matches at this level. Oke's defensive scrambling was continuing to be effective, the forwards upped their game and the introduction into the fray of talismanic back rower Ali Mason putting a spring into the home side's step.
The match was in the balance when two key incidents occurred. Firstly wing Rob Fishleigh produced defensive heroics to foil a certain score. Then the South Hams side lost their second row for over vigorous use of the boot at ruck time. The Okes seized their chance and applied the pressure in the set scrums. Turning down a kickable penalty, they opted for a midfield attacking scrummage instead. Scrum half Richie Friend broke blind and fed flyer Fishleigh for a clear run into the corner to extend Oke's lead to 19-8.
Time was ebbing away when Oke finally applied the killer blow. Once more it was from a midfield scrum as half back Friend went right again for another fine individual effort that was grounded under the posts and successfully converted. There was still just time for Kingsbridge to drive deep into Okes' 22 and conjure up a last minute try for second row Rossiter. The kick was landed and the final whistle went.
This was as an excellent home victory by Okehampton over a very good side .