North Okes 43 Exeter Saracens II 10 THIS fixture for the combined North Tawton/Okehampton second and third teams was made up from the ranks of the North Tawton club this week. North Okes started well. The three-quarters moved the ball across the park and a maul developed on the Sarries? try line, from which flanker Richard Lethbridge dived through for the first try, which was not converted. Another excellent try came for North Okes from a flowing cross-field move, initiated by a lineout catch by Lethbridge. The ball was moved quickly through the three quarters to Julian Rice on the right wing, who went over for the second try. The conversion from distance was unsuccessful. The Sarries? forwards were mauling well and forcing Okes to retreat, when a neat chip over the heads of the defenders gave a break for Saracens? right wing Tom Wilcox, who raced through for their first try. This conversion was also missed. An injury to North Tawton?s Martin Hanns brought on club captain Kevin Avery to the second row. Shortly after that a long penalty kick to touch by fly half Paul Fewings took North Okes down to the Saracens? 5 metre line, and from the resulting line out flanker Richard Nye broke through the defending tackles to score a good try for the home team. This was converted by Fewings. North Okes nearly had a dream start to the second period with a well-worked break down the right, but unluckily the ball was dropped as the try was being scored. However soon after this a cleverly taken penalty tap by North Tawton?s young scrum half, Simon Quick caught the defence wrong-footed and he dodged through for his first try. This try was converted by Fewings to stretch the score to 24 points for the home team. Another good spell followed for North Okes and centre Simon Metcalfe scored another try; the conversion dropped just short of the cross bar. Sarries replied with a try of their own. They managed to recycle it however, and a pass to centre Dan Collacott put him through for their second try, which remained un-converted. Entering the final quarter at 29-10 ahead, flanker Richard Lethbridge dived over for his second try. The conversion by Fewings took Okes to 36-10, but there was time for more as an excellent follow-up tackle by Okes? winger Graham Horne kept Sarries penned in their own half. Another quickly-taken penalty tap by Simon Quick set up a passing move and Lethbridge again went over for a try, but this was disallowed. Not to be denied the forwards scrummaged a Sarries? put-in so well that it caused a fumble at the base of the scrum. North Tawton?s Phil Elkins, playing at centre instead of flanker, was on the loose ball in a flash and raced in for a last try. This was converted by Fewings to give a final score of 43-10 to North Okes, an encouraging result after several disappointments over the recent weeks.
