Devon and Cornwall League Okehampton first XV 50 Bideford first XV 3 THE feelgood factor has returned to the Showfield in spades after this excellent victory against Okes' mid-table Torridgeside rivals. A sizeable crowd witnessed a dominant, clinical and ultimately entertaining performance from the home side, whose powerful pack controlled proceedings all afternoon. The visitors arrived on a run of good form, having severely tested league leaders Tavistock in their previous fixture. Renowned for their pacy back three, they must have seen the dry, firm conditions and been hopeful of giving their hosts a tough battle. But these false hopes were blown away in the opening salvo. From a fumbled kick off reception. Okehampton gained a lineout midway into Bideford's half. The lineout was taken by player coach Brett Luxton, who led from the front outstandingly all match. The pack drove forward as a tight unit and 35 metres later Okehampton had scored the first try through prop Danny Carey. His brother Lee added the conversion and Okehampton had the best possible start — 7- 0 up in the first minute of the game. Then for the first time, Bideford entered Okehampton territory and their outside half Ollie Wickett converted a difficult penalty chance to reduce the deficit to four points, but that was as close as they would get. The home side were in control throughout the first period and it was not long before another score materialised. The front five were in fine form and their set play supremacy allowed the scrummage to march forward relentlessly, and from a five-metre scrum, number eight Luxton crossed for the first of his tries to stretch the lead to 14-3. With this amount of possession and aided by the lively promptings of young Joey Bruce at scrum half, Okehampton consistently stretched the visitors' defence and they conceded penalties with regularity. Lee Carey continued his recent fine kicking form to convert three of these and the home side turned around in control at 23-3. The Okehampton pack carried on where they left off in the second period and with flanker Ali Mason back to his best, destructive in the tackle and rampaging in the loose, they turned the screw. Lee Carey added another penalty before the first of his two tries. He popped up on his opposite wing for the first, finishing off some fine build-up play by stepping inside of his right foot and using his strength to cross in the right corner. His next try was the pick of the home side's scores; crisp handling from the backs putting him into space, he brushed off two attempted tackles and dived over in the left corner for another fine try. At 36-3 up, Okehampton entered the last quarter also a man up due to a sin-binning, and their hunger for points ensured no rest for the visitors' defence. Luxton got the second score his driving runs deserved, and finally Dan Carey crossed for his second try near the uprights to round things off very satisfactorily. Lee Carey converted both to take his personal point tally to 31, to add to the 27 he managed last week and the final whistle went. An excellent win with a fine team performance from one to 18. Okehampton have struck form at the right time and if they continue to play this well then they will be a match for any side in this league. l Next up is the league visit of Honiton, a side fighting to stave off relegation at the wrong end of the table.
