IT WAS billed as a close encounter and the Neal Cousins Memorial Match between Okehampton Rugby Club and Football Club failed to disappoint on Sunday.

The rugby boys made it through to win the rugby match 20-12 and more than 300 people turned out to watch the spectacle.

The match, now in its fifth year, is the main focus of a day of activities to remember keen town sportsman Neal Cousins, who died of leukaemia at the age of 24, and raise money for the Exeter Leukaemia Fund.

This year's total of £4,500 brings the amount raised over the last five years to £27,500 which has contributed substantially to the new Haematology Centre at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

The items which fetched the most money at the day's charity auction were a Manchester United shirt signed by Ryan Giggs and Rudd van Nistelroy (£400) and an England Rugby Team shirt and shorts signed by local-boy-made-good Julian White (£290).

One of the main organisers Steve Harris said he was very pleased with the day and although the money raised was not as much as the previous year it was still a fantastic amount.

'I would like to thank everyone who sponsored and supported the event,' he said.