Devon & Cornwall League Okehampton 1st XV 18 Wellington 1st XV 8 OKEHAMPTON welcomed their Somerset visitors for a mid-table battle. Playing down the slope with a strong wind at their backs, Okehampton started brightly and were soon ahead after a strong driving maul ended with prop Danny Carey rumbling over for the first try. The score was unconverted but it appeared from the early stages that Okehampton had the edge up front while Wellington preferred to spread the ball wide and use their backs as their main form of attack. Okehampton provided a similar score to stretch their lead midway through the half. The forwards snaffled a Wellington lineout and from another rolling maul number eight Sam Turner crossed and the lead was now ten points. Okehampton were struggling to win lineout ball and were unable to camp in the visitors' half as the conditions demanded. Wellington got within striking range and were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. It was struck between the uprights and 10-3 was now the score. Okehampton came back strongly and managed another score before the interval when Danny Carey bullocked over on the blindside in the bottom right hand corner for his second try. Again the conversion was unsuccessful and the try-scoring prop limped off shortly after this score. Then, not for the first time this season, Okehampton allowed the opposition to pull a score straight back. The kick off was not cleared, a penalty was awarded, and a kick to the corner was the preferred option. Wellington used the front of the lineout welll and with the aid of some cunning obstruction scored in the corner. The kick was missed and the score was 15-8 at the interval. The second half began with the visitors' lively young fly half being sent to the sin-bin. But Okehampton were unable to dominate the 14 men, and the only score of the second half was a penalty from in front of the uprights kicked by winger Martin Holgate. At 18-8 the game was won. Okehampton did finish strongly but were unable to cross the line to increase the margin of victory. Another welcome two points which sees Okehampton leapfrog Wessex in the league table and ensconce themselves in mid-table security. An uninspiring performance which failed to excite the decently sized crowd. However as last week, winning is a good habit to get into. l Next league match is away to local rivals Tavistock in a fortnight's time.