Barnstaple Colts 10 Okehampton Colts 19 FOLLOWING last weeks successful warm up game against Exeter Saracens, Okehampton Colts merit table season began in earnest with a tough away game. With the Okes kicking off, the early exchanges were mainly confined to the home side?s territory with constant pressure forcing Barnstaple into a series of touch kicks to clear their lines. From this position of relative comfort an early wake up call came to the Okes when the home fullback broke out of defence beating a series of tackles before being hauled down well into the visitors? half. This broke any complacency the Okes may have had. Props Martin Moyes and Scotty Simpson were proving a handful in the tight and following a disrupted scrum the ball was scrambled into touch for an Okes throw on the home 22 line. A clean take at the line out was turned into a well controlled drive that was marshalled by scrum-half Radnor and lock Oli Fay. The drive was taken over the try line and No 8 Richard Barrington claimed the score. Fly half Carl Poynton duly converted. The Okes were now beginning to play with confidence. Ruck ball was proving a secure stream of possession and with the forwards playing the pick-up and drive option they had the home side on the back foot. The marauding Barrington was proving a real handful turning over possession and gaining ground on a regular basis with several last ditch tackles and clearing kicks thwarting further score. One such kick was well fielded by full back Rob Fishliegh and with a superb elusive run he took play right back into the Barnstable 22. Further passages of play again threatened with both Fishleigh and Carl Goodall being pulled up just short of the line. With the ball now being moved wide, Barrington came into the line to crash over for his and the Okes? second try bringing the half time score to 0 ? 12 to the Okes. In the second half the Okes were struggling to maintain the control they had over the game in the first half and it was the home side that were now beginning to threaten . Stout defence was called for with Rob Long and Luke Crocker both putting in some sterling effort gaining vital turnover in threatening positions. Barnstaple?s pressure eventually got its just rewards when from a line out and a hard fought rolling maul they crashed over for their first points. To the Okes? credit they regrouped. Luke Wonnacott remained sharp and galloped over for the try that secured the victory with Poynton again adding the extra points. The final act of the game saw the home side score a late consolation try.