Cornwall and Devon

Hayle 3

Okehampton 1st XV 11

THE weather conditions at the Memorial Ground in Hayle were simply atrocious as the game started with Okehampton playing into a strong wind that was accompanied by driving rain.

Hayle kicked off but despite having both the advantage of the elements and a significantly larger side the visitors pack dominated the early exchanges.

In the set scrums the Okehampton front row of Nick Martin, Bruce Griffiths and Ian Langbridge was causing all manner of difficulties for the home side and consequently the Hayle scrummage was constantly under pressure. The set lineout was fairly even but around the park it was again the Okes who were in the ascendancy with the effervescent Simon Cox very much to the fore and returning number eight Ali Mason giving a typically robust performance in the contact area.

Okehampton winger Lee Carey came closest to scoring a try in the first half when he was eventually bundled into touch at the corner flag following a 30 metre run leaving defenders sprawling in his wake.

However, it was Carey who did open the scoring when he struck a prodigious 40 metre penalty between the uprights. A few further half-chances were created by the visitors although the handling conditions were nigh on impossible. One such chance occurred when full-back Gareth Espin hit a gap at pace. Sadly, he was unable to control the ball and it was spilled forward for a Hayle scrummage. This seemed to spur Hayle into action and shortly before the half time whistle a period of home possession saw them awarded a penalty which fly-half Mike Crump was able to convert to give parity at the interval.

Okehampton brought on Dan Carey for Nick Martin and the second period started as the first had finished, with Hayle having the greater share of possession. Eventually though the Okehampton forwards reasserted themselves and with the visitors' scrummage once again dominant, a score soon came the visitors way. A quick break involving Joey Bruce and open-side flanker Simon Cox saw the ball moved out to fly-half Gary Sizmur who showed the home defence a clean pair of heels to score in the corner for an 11-3 lead.

Okehampton Seconds 15

Torquay thirds 0

WITH a change in the weather suiting the away side's much heavier pack Oke playing up the hill against the elements, defended well but found it hard to put any phases together. But with half an hour gone new winger, Steve Richards, was put in space and duly finished in style. Injury to Gary Carey meant that sub Tom Robinson found himself on the wing and revelled in the space.

Half time came and with the wind Oke backs took more control. Shortly after Jack Barkwell suffered a bad knee injury and was stretchered off. After a reshuffle Steve Richards was given the ball again and it was try number two. Buzz converted and kicking a penalty shortly after to end the scoring. Okehampton Colts 37

Plymstock Albion Colts 5

PLAYING with the slope, gale and rain the hosts were soon into their stride with the forwards dominating both the set piece and second phase possession. From a scrum where Stuart Bennie won the ball against the head, number eight Rob Long picked up and drove down field taking play deep into Plymstock territory. After further phases wing Carl Goodhall cut a good angle to score the opening try which Kevin Dennis converted.

From the restart the Okes maintained the advantage of possession and it didn't take long for their second try with prop Mike Panton crashing over from short range. Tries from scrum-half Jake Chisholm and the strong running Long showed that a more direct and conservative approach was more appropriate for the conditions of the day.

The second half saw the Okes playing into worsening conditions and predictably the spirited Plymothians used their sturdy pack and the elements to raise their game. In the Okes' defence Jack Phare performed well with some excellent running and clearances out of pressure situations.

The home side weathered the Plymstock storm and after Jake Chisholm collected well from a high kick, his resultant run was well supported with Will Hawkins and Luke Crocker maintaining the momentum before Rory Honeychurch finished off the best try of the match.

Plymstock were not prepared to down tools and again began to exert pressure. To their credit, the response from the hosts was immediate and a well worked move from the scrum saw the ball fed to flying winger Callum Ausden who out flanked the defence to score. Long added a further try to give Okes a comfortable win.

l Congratulations to Stuart Bennie, Rory Honeychurch, Tom McGratton and Richard Friend on being selected into the Devon U18 Squad playing against Cornwall U18 on Sunday at Okehampton, ko 2pm.