North Okes U15s 0 Bude U15s 7 PLAYING one of Cornwall's top teams North Okes suffered only their second defeat since early November in what was a cracking match between two excellent sides. Bude proved a handful in the pack with one forward 6ft 4ins and weighing 20st. Despite that North Okes proved equal in the early exchanges with good defence from the backs stifling their opponents' dangerous backs and produced some great handling moves themselves. First Eric Bright broke from midfield for North Okes and moved the ball left to Ollie Hodgeson who was brought down just short. It was Ollie again who made a great run up the left wing after some sweet handling in what were heavy conditions. This prompted Bude to keep the ball in the forwards and a series of drives resulted in a lineout on North Okes' five yard line. Despite winning the lineout a stray boot in the ruck saw the ball squirt out the side and the Bude number eight picked up the ball and drove over the line. Playing with a slight breeze to their backs in the second half North Okes produced an excellent half of rugby. Curtis and Bright controlled the game superbly at half back for the home side and the North Okes forwards penned Bude back in their own half. Ollie Scantlebury and Harvey Ratcliffe were excellent in attack and the defence launched some excellent drives to set up good attacking positions. With Andy Evans, Chris Pyle and Chris Knott driving around the rucks for North Okes Eric Bright accelerated through a gap from the 22 only to be brought down just short by a brilliant covering tackle. Ollie Scantlebury following picked up and drove over the line only to be denied by the referee. A rushed clearance saw Si Fellows pick up on half way, to cut through the opposition only to be tackled yards from the line. Bude, resolute in defence, produced some outstanding cover tackles to deny North Okes. With five minutes left North Okes drove through the Bude defence with a mixture of forward drives and excellent handling in the backs, quick ruck ball saw the ball moved left for Ollie Hodgeson to cross the line only for the referee to disallow the try for a forward pass. This was an excellent performance by a team who are beginning to believe in their ability and the benefit from their winter training sessions. It was also a tremendous defensive effort by Bude who did not get out of their half in the second half. All who watched agreed it was a fine example of junior rugby with outstanding skills on display. l Next match for North Okes is at home to Tiverton tomorrow, Good Friday, at 11.30am.