Western Counties West

North Petherton 24

Okehampton 6

IN a surprisingly subdued game, for two sides occupying the top two places in the table, Okehampton came off second best due to a combination of factors. Six missed penalty goals, a host of injuries and lack of discipline ultimately cost the Okes dear.

This was not one of Oke's better performances. Credit must go to the home defence though as the Okes failed to create many clear cut scoring opportunities.

The visitors played with the slight incline on the tight Beggars Brook pitch. Petherton, bolstered by close season recruits from troubled Bridgwater, showed the forward experience early doors to enter the Okes territory. Okehampton themselves though were eager to move the ball and gained territorial advantage regularly, but then spoilt their good work through wrong decisions or indiscipline.

The hosts went into a 12-0 lead in the first quarter through two tries out wide as the Okes failed to defend those channels effectively. Despite missing several early chances, fly half Carl Poynton did pop two penalties over to reduce the arrears to six points at the interval.

Unfortunately for the visitors, injuries had already played their part, as first centre Luke Honeychurch, then winger Rob Fishleigh were forced to leave the field. With only one nominated back replacement, Oke had to reshuffle resulting in back rower Tom Mcgratton playing on the right wing.

The Okes did give as good as they got in the third quarter up the slope. More penalty chances went begging though, and against a tight home defence, two of which struck the uprights. Okehampton could ill afford to be so profligate.

The scrums were fairly even, the visitors getting a slight nudge on as the game became bogged down in midfield. Crucially though, in the lineouts the hosts reigned supreme, and the lack of ball from this phase was starving the Okes of a solid platform.

North Petherton lost a prop to the bin but. typical of the day though, the visitors threw a loose pass while in possession, and from a scrappy hack ahead conceded a dangerous looking lineout. Despite being a man short, the hosts used their size advantage effectively to catch and drive for a score awarded under a pile of bodies. This sealed a home victory.

Oke made more substitutions and went looking for a bonus point. However, soft defence allowed the home number eight to run in from halfway for a converted try that ensured the final scoreline did not reflect the actual balance of play. The Okes should not be too disheartened as this was a defeat for a young developing side, against an experienced home outfit looking for promotion. .