Western Counties

Tiverton 21

Okehampton 25

OKEHAMPTON travelled to the Coronation field hoping to build on last week's victory over local rivals Tavistock. In the corresponding fixture last season the Okes had won narrowly and so they knew that their hosts would be out for revenge.

In conditions that were perfect for running rugby the game started in the worst possible fashion for the visitors. They made a complete hash of fielding the kick-off giving Tiverton a scrum deep inside their own 22.

Although the initial attacks were repelled, the ball eventually came back to fly-half Jimmy Atkins who potted a simple drop goal to give the hosts a 3-0 lead after two minutes. It became clear that the Okehampton forwards were going to struggle to provide a regular supply of ball to their backs.

The scrum was under pressure and although the lineout was functioning well at the breakdown it was Tiverton who were in the ascendancy with flanker Ollie Channin to the fore.

However, on 20 minutes scrum-half Richie Friend fielded a ball just outside his 22. He skipped past a couple of would-be tacklers before offloading to fly-half Carl Poynton who, in turn, found right-wing Kev Dennis; Dennis from 40 metres out broke three tackles on the outside before scoring in clubhouse corner to make it 5-3 to the visitors.

The momentum was now the Okes and on 30 minutes a period of concerted forward pressure saw the ball moved wide for Poynton to make a lovely break only to see the scoring pass go to ground.

The Okes were not to be denied and following some superb defensive work from wingman Tom Powell scrum-half Friend found Poynton in space. He arrowed a pin-point diagonal kick for Dennis to chase, who caught the ball on the full and scorched up the flank to score and give Oke a 10-3 lead at the interval

At the start of the second period the hosts were awarded a penalty in front of the posts which was converted by Atkins to make it 10-6. This was cancelled out by a Poynton strike. Three minutes later Tom Powell was sent to the sin bin for a technical offence which gave Atkins the opportunity to bring the score to 13-9. Tiverton brought on player-coach Simon Morrell and within minutes he marshalled a catch and drive move from a close range linout to score the try himself.

Okehampton regained the lead in under 10 minutes. A penalty was superbly struck to the corner and a well organised catch and drive of their own took play to within two metres of the Tiverton line where skipper Ian Langbridge was on hand to rumble over to give Oke an 18-14 lead.

The hosts threw everything they had at Okehampton but without really creating any clear cut chances due, substantially to the resolute and robust defence of the visitors. However with under five minutes to go the Tiverton forwards emerged through a driving maul for Ollie Channin to score under the posts. The simple conversion gave Tiverton a 21-18 lead and the Okes looked as though they would have to settle for a losing bonus point.

An excellent kick-off was well chased by the forwards and they immediately recovered possession. Inside centre Walker again made a good break only to be high tackled on the 22. The ball was again pumped to the corner and following a number of scrappy phases where the ball was won and lost by both sides Okehampton spread the ball wide again. By the time it had found Luke Honeychurch in the outside centre berth a huge gap appeared in the Tiverton defence which he needed no second invition to waltz through. He kicked the conversion himself and Okes had just done enough win with a bonus point.

n This week sees the Okes at home to early pace-setters Wellington, kick-off 3pm.