Barnstaple Colts 3
Okehampton Colts 10
Not many Okehampton teams have travelled away to Barnstaple looking for a win but this improving Colts side has trained hard under Fred Bolt and Andy Ewen and with four replacements on the bench drove into the heart of the home defence from the start.
Ben Woolams had an outstanding game on the right wing both in attack and defence and along with his backs partner Mark Shields they cut through the defensive line time and time again. All credit to a committed Barnstaple side who tackled ferociously.
The first try came midway in the first half with a failed clearance kick by Barnstaple.
Run back from full back, ball was rucked and passed through the centres to set Ben Woolams free on the wing.
The home drift defence was lining him up when he pushed off his right foot, scything infield linking with the supporting Ian Sercombe and leaving the full back flat footed. Sercombe dived under the posts for a converted try with Sizmur and Cox in support.
Barnstaple never troubled Okehampton in attack, failing to break down the defence and so took to kicking to touch.
From another failed touch kick Gary Sizmur fielded it well and fed the whole backline for a 50metre gain.
Sizmur distributed the ball well at scrum half and took the ball on himself rather than put his fly half under pressure.
Okehampton?s backs used a variety of moves to good effect bringing full back Andy Herrod-Taylor into the backline in a number of different places to move the point of attack.
Tom Powell on the left wing got plenty of action in attack making good yardage. Barnstaple took three points from a penalty early in the second half but were unable to increase the score.
With 5 minutes left Okehampton scored with a penalty to win the match.
Try: Ian Sercombe. Penalty and conversion: Andy Herrod-Taylor.