Okehampton Seconds 19
Crediton Seconds 6
AN Okehampton v Crediton fixture is motivation enough to produce a competitive game, let alone memories of last year's fixture where Okehampton were well and truly beaten by an in-form Crediton.
The game started with both sides winning good ball from their own set pieces and willing to run at each other.
Good defence, a thread that continued during the whole game, saw few chances of scoring tries in the first 20 minutes from either side.
Okehampton, playing uphill in the first period, gave away two silly penalties that gave Crediton a six-point lead with ten minutes left of the first half. Determined play saw Okehampton win good lineout ball on the opposition's 25-metre line.
After spinning the ball wide it came back to Max Sampson. The captain, playing on the wing, darted around his opposite number to open the Okehampton scoring.
With tails high Okehampton were determined to add to their first half points and playing down the slope took every opportunity to open the game up. The backs orchestrated the best of Okehampton's three tries with a perfectly turned pass from fly half Will Campbell that led to Colin Ewen getting the score.
A period of intense defence with Crediton pressurising the Okehampton line saw a pushover try averted after Okehampton's forwards stopped their scrummage.
A penalty relieved the pressure and with Okehampton back in Crediton's half they needed one final score to make the game secure. This came after a good scrummage put pressure on Crediton's scrum half.
This week's team was changed through unavailability and last-minute call-ups from the third team. Sampson had to play on the wing. John Davey secured good lineout ball throughout and contributed well in open play.
Rob Ewen added experience and replaced number eight Barry Madge, who was injured during the week in a road accident — all the players and club members wish him a speedy recovery.