Western Counties West

Okehampton 22

Devonport Services 5

OKEHAMPTON continued their fine run of form with this efficient victory in difficult playing conditions. It's a testament to how the pitch has improved that the game could go ahead at all, after the persistent rain of the preceding week.

The home's side started brightly and went ahead within five minutes. Awarded a five metre scrum in front of the clubhouse, the home eight pushed Services back, until they were close enough for number eight Steve Alford to pick up and cross for the opening try. Fly half Carl Poynton added the straightforward conversion. However, the visitors responded almost immediately when the Okes failed to clear their lines while under pressure in their own half. There seemed little danger as Oke were awarded a scrum on their 22 line. The Devonport pack turned the scrummaging table on the hosts to steal the strike against the head. Visiting number 8 Josh Theophides gratefully accepted a huge opening on the blindside, and strolled over for a try to the right of the posts. The conversion was missed. Okes' centre Tom Powell was then forced to leave the field injured after just 15 minutes. Second team fly half Jordan Lee came onto the wing while stand in winger Tom Mcgratton moved inside to the centre.

Conditions worsened, so did the quality of handling by both sides but Okehampton extended their lead midway through the half after a series of effective pick and drives by the forwards. Carl Poynton added another three points as a result of an infringement as Services tried to repel the Oke pack's advances.

The rest of the half was then a stalemate, as defences were on top with both sides gaining possession then proceeding to turn it over, resulting in the interval arriving with Okehampton holding a 10- 5 lead.

The second period saw the Okes play down the slope with the wind behind. Hailstorms came and went and the pitch began to cut up badly. Okehampton were soon on the offensive, and a combination of driving forward play and the nimble footwork of wing Rob Fishleigh brought a second try. The winger stepped inside several times and when the ball was recycled, the pack drove on irrepressibly, culminating with impressive second rower Neil Perrott forcing his way over. Poynton added the extras.

Conditions were now dictating the quality of play and it was difficult for either side to produce constructive phases of play. However, Okehampton were still camped in their opponents half for the majority of the second half, and their scrum was becoming increasingly dominant.

It became almost impossible to tell the sides apart in the mud as the game drew to a conclusion in the gathering darkness. More scrummage pressure from the home side produced loose ball from a Services scrum. Scrum half Gary Sizmur hacked ahead and dived on the bouncing ball by the posts for the match clinching score. Poynton struck the bar with the dead ahead conversion, but it mattered little as there was barely time for the match to restart. Time was up and the Okes had overcome another tricky hurdle.