Okehampton Colts 35 Exeter Saracens 8 OKEHAMPTON started poorly conceding a try in the first two minutes as hooker Dan Parker pounced on a loose ball from the line out and raced over the line. Saracens? forwards held their own in set play and their openside flanker was quicker to the breakdowns and disrupted the continuity of play for Okehampton. Nevertheless the home forwards stuck to the task in hand and the backs caused havoc from first phase ball. Miss moves and long passes to Andy Herrod-Taylor entering the line from full back split the Saracens line wide open. Okehampton?s first try came from one of these moves as the full back hit the line, drew the winger to create the overlap and put Tom Powell in for a try in the corner. Both teams exchanged penalties to end the half 8-8. With the slope in the second half Okehampton took control as half back, Ian Sercombe used his boot wisely with teasing chips and long defensive clearances putting his team in sight of the line. Two tries came from number 8 breaks at the base of the scrum, popping off to the scrum half and wing with Ben Woolams getting the first early in the half and Gary Sizmur just before the end. Wing forward Keith Jones pressured a defensive line out, tackling the scrum half with Simon Bennett picking up the loose ball and diving over for a try. Defence was turned to attack as Chris Martin?s tackle caused ball to be spilled forward, Sercombe hacked it on with Dean Beardon in support claiming the try. The try of the season involved the whole backline in close support at full pace working right on the touchline; even three succesive tackles could not prevent the score. A clever chip by Sercombe behind the flat defence was fielded by Beardon popped to Herrod-Taylor on the burst, passed out of the tackle back inside to Shields and passed again from the tackle to Chris Martin who drove over for a wonderful try.
