Okehampton U13s 18
Exeter Chiefs U13s 17
Okehampton started strongly with Rob Long making good ground, supported well by Scott Simpson, Tom McGratton, Ricci Cobb, Stuart Bennie, Sam Bullingham, James Heard and Richard Friend.
They took the ball close to the Exeter 22 where the Chiefs handled in a ruck to give away a penalty. Carl Poynten stepped up to put it over.
Exeter came back strongly, their heavier pack driving Okehampton back at rucks and mauls, but good defensive tackling kept the game in the middle half of the pitch. David Binns and Tom Browne had some positive runs.
From an Exeter 22 drop-out they kicked long into Okehampton's 22. Rory Honeychurch, taking the ball and running it back at the opposition, passed out of a tackle to Carl Poynten. He beat the Exeter winger and sprinted two-thirds of the pitch to score under the posts and convert.
Exeter hit back with their strong running centre scoring in the corner.
Okehampton pressured Exeter and good interplay between the forwards and backs saw Honeychurch go over the line but lose the ball in the tackle.
Advantage was being played for an Exeter infringement. Tom Browne took a quick tap penalty passing to Tom McGratton to dive into the corner to score.
Exeter managed to score two more tries and converted one, with their heavier pack having the better of the forward battle at the rucks. But the power of Rob Long causing some turnovers at the mauls meant Exeter had the lead.
With only a couple of minutes left Okehampton attacked with good forward ball going out through the line to Poynten. He chipped over the defence and chased the ball. It forced the Exeter full-back hurriedly to kick upfield with Scott Simpson taking the ball well, putting several of the Exeter players offside, conceding a penalty just outside the 22. Poynten converted the penalty for Okehampton to win.
Men of the match Rob Long and Carl Poynten.