Devon U13s Knockout Cup quarter-final
Torquay U13s 29
Okehampton U13s 0
FROM the kick-off the home side took the game to the visiting Okes with a high pressure approach that allowed little time to settle on the ball.
Efficient rucking led to a consistent stream of possession for the home side that allowed them to drive their way upfield. The Okes showed great resilience in defence against a larger and more powerful pack and with the backs closing their opposite numbers down rapidly Torbay were forced into errors that led to a stream of penalties.
The Okes lost a scrum in midfield that saw the Torquay No 8 break from the base of the scrum and score the opening try.
Late in the first half the Okes conceded a dubious try after full back George Hall had made an excellent last-ditch tackle only to see the ball blatantly handled off the ground from which a try was awarded. This brought the half-time score to 10-0 to the home side.
The second half saw the Okes begin to win useful lineout ball from Phil Harding. The larger Torquay forwards were beginning to gain the upper hand with aggressive running and rucking.
Despite sterling defence from the backs where John Radnor and Robert North were working hard, Torquay began to push play down field.
Luke Wonnacott and Robert Fishleigh stopped the home side?s largest and fastest player from scoring with a bone shaking tackle only to see the home side?s scrum half wriggle under a mass of bodies from the resulting ruck to score.
From the restart Okehampton took a leaf out of the Torquay book and began to pressurise the home side into periods of play in which they consistently failed to make the gain line. But the more experienced hosts weathered the Okehampton storm.
From a break near the Okehampton line Jon Harwood made the tackle of the game stopping the Torquay No 8 dead in his tracks and into touch to deny what seemed a certain try.
The home side kept up the pressure but it took all their superior strength,s ize and experience to score two well worked tries late in the game.