Devon U15s Cup

Okehampton 20

WHEN they met before Christmas Plymstock beat Okehampton comfortably - if they were expecting to win easily again they were in for a shock.

The Okehampton pack, notably Paul Lawrence, Simon Cox and Alun Williams, kept the home side alive with their tackling. Plymstock worked their way into the 22 and stole a scrum ball before passing the ball wide for a score in the corner.

Continued pressure allowed them two further unconverted tries to lead 15-0 at half time.

Phil Woods at full back and Dean Beardon on the wing tackled relentlessly to limit the score. Gary Sizmur played well at the base of the scrum, despite being under intense pressure from the Plymstock back row and Andy Herrod-Taylor used the ball wisely at fly half with long miss passes and switches to make the most of possession.

Okehampton turned the tables on Plymstock in the second half with pressure from loose play. Chris Searle and Tom Bird along with hooker Dan Hudson kept the scrum level despite the size of their opposition.

Continuing pressure caused Plymstock to give away penalties and Herrod-Taylor opened the score for Okehampton with a comfortable kick in front of the posts.

Plymstock were caught offside time and again, giving away penalties as Matt West and Sam Turner drove forward from the rucks. Richard Bolt took a penalty quickly and wormed his way through the tacklers to reach the line wide on the right.

At 8-15 down the home side again raised their game. Sizmur went off injured with 20 minutes to go with Bolt moving to scrum half.

From Okehampton?s half the ball was chipped over the defence by the fly half, Herrod-Taylor, and into the 22 box. From the scrum, ball was charged down and Bolt gathered it and made the line for his second try.

Plymstock rallied and worked their way into Okehampton?s 22 winning the scrum ball and scoring in the corner to lead 20-13.

In the dying minutes Okehampton kept trying for another score. Jonny Hutchins and Jack Preston pummelled the defence in the centre without getting the break. Back row pressure led to Plymstock dropping the ball behind their scrum in midfield. Herrod-Taylor hacked it 45 yards and followed up, causing the Plymstock full back to touch down in goal, giving Okehampton a five-metre scrum. Quickly won ball saw Bolt drive over for his hat-trick. Herrod-Taylor converted to draw the game.

But Plymstock move to the next round as they scored four tries to three and the away team wins a draw.