Crediton Colts 0

Okehampton Colts 23

FOLLOWING last weeks narrow victory at Crediton, Okehampton Colts returned to the Blagdon for their first merit table fixture of the season .

Crediton began in earnest fashion determined to reverse the previous week's defeat but with the Okes weathering the early storm, the home side's passion resulted in a less than focused approach that saw them concede a string of penalties for indiscretions at the break down.

Kevin Dennis used these opportunities to continually push Crediton back into their own 22 and with Merrick Kirby cleaning up in the line out with accurate throwing from Brad Hudson, the resultant pressure brought about further penalty opportunities with Dennis taking advantage with three first half successes that saw the half time score 0 – 9.

The first half was not all about penalties with the young Okehampton side making excellent use of possession keeping their hosts on the back foot with Oli Scantlebury making a series of probing runs and but for a pass delivered a fraction of a second too late, Jack Phare would have been in for the first touch down. In defence the Okes conceded only two penalties with any short range attacks from ruck or maul being driven back, Chris Knott having a great game supported well by Darcy Heard who showed great commitment in the tackle.

From some impressive pick up and drives from close quarters with Andrew Fishliegh, Ben Kearley and Rob Steptoe prominent, the Oke's again pushed deep into Crediton territory in the second half.

With the home side conceding yet another penalty, Dennis's kick to touch pushed the visitors into the home 22. From the lineout, Kirby again secured clean ball and once released, Dennis beat his man and crashed over. Converting his own extras took the score to 0-16.

Predictably the home side went for broke and while the referee finally lost patience with their indiscipline at the breakdown by committing a second row to the sin bin, their passion finally began to result in territorial advantage seeing them camped in the Okes 22 area for long periods.

The defensive discipline of the visitors was superb with every line remaining intact. In mid field Jo Taylor, Cameron Rickerby and Dennis bottled things up with Taylor putting in a few crunchers. On the flanks Jack Phare was again solid with Jamie Stevens chasing everything down. Si Fellows at full back was very secure and dealt well with everything Crediton threw at him.

With the game well into the last quarter the hosts determination to get back into the game started to become ever more frustrated with some unsavoury use of the boot being justly dealt with via another visit to the sin bin. The game was finally secured when some ambitious handling was intercepted by Cameron Rickerby and after two split second passes the ball came to Jamie Stevens who showed the Crediton defence a clean pair of heels, sprinting to touch down under the posts with Dennis converting to bring the final score to 0-23 to the Okes.

Next week Merit Table game – Exeter Chiefs at Home kick off 3pm.

Crediton Colts 0

Okehampton Colts 7

PLAYING down the slope the young Okes got off to a good start with Andrew Fishleigh taking a good catch from the kick-off making good ground before a solid ruck allowed Kev Dennis time to push play deep into the home half with a good touch clearance.

Having gained territorial advantage the visitors made sure that this is where they stayed for most of the first half. As the game progressed the Okes grew in confidence.

Cameron Rickerby and Joe Taylor for the Okes were proving rock solid in midfield where their larger opponents were constantly thwarted by an efficient rush defence. Chris Knott was also making a nuisance of himself at number six putting in some big hits on the fringes of the breakdowns.

In the set piece Ben Kearley caused his opposite prop all sorts of problems with the Crediton scrum being regularly disrupted.

The first score was proving elusive with Jamie Stevens being the closest to breaking the dead lock being bundled into touch inches short of the line after the ball was spun wide. The first half ended without a point on the board.

In the second half an early kick went directly into touch with the Okes conceding ground they regrouped and with some excellent positional kicking from Kev Dennis the visitors were once again in Crediton territory.

After a series of rucks and plays and an excellent series of pick and drives saw Ben Kearley crash over for the first try of the game. Dennis duly converted.

Crediton came back with aggressive vengeance but continued excellent defence, with winger Jack Phare putting in a few crunching tackles along with good play by Oli Scantlebury, Harvey Ratcliff, Chris Pyle and Pete Gillard, saw the home side continued to be frustrated.