Okehampton U14s 18 Crediton U14s 13 WITH Crediton being the visitor it was always going to be a hard fought game, with the visitors trying to overturn the result early on in the season against their Okehampton rivals. The game started off rustily from both teams and with difficult conditions underfoot handling mistakes were always going to happen. Pressure from Okehampton early on led to the first points on the board with a penalty kick from Matt Johns. Crediton responded with some good interplay from the pack leading them to score the first try. Okehampton then responded with their own move forcing Crediton to give away another penalty allowing Craig Dennis to score his first points. The game was now going from end to end but a silly mistake from Okehampton allowed the visitors to score a penalty in the last few minutes of the first half to take the lead 8-6. In the second half Okehampton came out fighting with their forwards starting to take more control of the game with Thomas White, Leigh Hughes and Nathan Abrahams making some useful charges and with Buster Francis back to full fitness having a great game things were starting to turn in Okehampton's favour. It was after a good drive by Nathan, supported by George Speak, Harry Jones and Sam Cooper and the rest of the forwards Leigh scored a try. Crediton, not to be out done, upped their game and put Okehampton under a lot of pressure — but with Henry Cooper, Kieran Mitchell, Craig Dennis and Matt Johns all tackling well and Tom Fogerty counter attacking, Crediton had few chances to score. However, in the end the pressure told and Crediton went over for a try. Okehampton's backs, not to be out done, turned up their game and with some clever use of the boot by Tom Wilkins and Tom Fogerty kept attacking the opposition; after a convincing scrum they passed the ball to leave Craig Dennis to break through the defence to score a try, which he then went on and converted. Overall the team are improving with the forwards working as a unit and getting stronger every week and the half backs of Sam Ewen and Tom Wilkins are beginning to get supported well by Johns, Cooper, Dennis, Mitchell and Cornwall. With Tom Fogerty enjoying the space at full back things are looking good for Okehampton U14s.
