EDF Junior Vase Okehampton 1st XV 20 Perranporth 1st XV 12 RELIEF for Okehampton with a welcome first victory, and first tries of the campaign. In bright sunshine Okehampton played up the slope in the first half against their Cornish visitors who were also promoted to the Devon and Cornwall league this season. The first half possession and territory was dominated by Okehampton, however they produced too many handling errors and turnovers considering the conditions. Perranporth were a big side up front and had the edge in the scrum in the first period, but Oke, welcoming back Steve Alford and Bruce Griffiths, gave a much improved line out display, ensuring good possession for a much changed back division. Dave Bickle, playing at fly half this week, struck a penalty to give Oke a 3-nil lead midway through the first half. Perranporth then made a rare sortie into Okehampton territory, and from a penalty, put the ball into the corner, then caught and drove the ensuing lineout for an unconverted score. This gave the visitors the lead 5-3. Oke retook the lead, hooker Bruce Griffiths made a good break up to the 22, and when the ball squirted loose, scrum half Gary Sizmur seized the opportunity to scamper in for a good try. It was no more than the young scrum half deserved after a very assured and promising display. The try was unconverted as Okes? kicking display again failed to hit the heights required at this level. Before half time the lead was extended when fly half Bickle score under the posts after a good run and an audacious dummy. He converted his own try to send Oke in at half time leading 15-5. The second half failed to produce the expected home onslaught. Although the visitors hardly left their own half, they still managed a scrappy kick-ahead breakaway try. This was converted and Oke began worryingly to be dragged into a tight game when they should have been well clear. Finally, after a good spell of forward pressure the ball was released to right wing Tom Powell who ran in a try into the bottom right corner unopposed. This score again was unconverted. The final whistle went and although pleased to have a victory Oke will be aware that they will have to play a lot better to keep the run going. The place kicking remains a concern; many tight games will be won or lost by the standard of the goal kicking this year. This week, back to league fixtures with a trip to Cullompton
