Devon and Cornwall League Okehampton 1st XV 17 Crediton 1st XV 7 THIS latest league outing for the Okes saw local rivals Crediton visit for the first time in the league for many years. This was always going to be a tight, tense affair and it turned out to be a hard fought battle with two well matched packs battling for supremacy. The Okes lost the toss and played with the slope in the first half. It was a nervous start by both sides as they both looked to play a tight game using their forwards as the main attacking weapon. Okehampton kept play mainly in the opposition half as fly half Brimmacombe used the slope and wind to good advantage, keeping the visitors pegged back with lengthy touch finders. Despite Okehampton having territorial advantage, they were struggling to make any clean breaks and create try scoring opportunities. After last week?s expansive style of play had brought such rewards at Wellington, many expected a similar pattern of play. But Okehampton reverted to a more limited game plan, and this pragmatic approach did keep the scoreboard ticking over as winger Lee Carey kicked four out of five first half penalty chances to give them a satisfactory lead. Crediton rarely entered Okehampton?s half but did miss a fairly straightforward penalty chance late on to leave the interval score at 12 points to nil. Okehampton knew they would be in for a tough second period. Crediton?s pack had shown enough in the first half to suggest they would win plenty of ball, and with the elements against them Okehampton were sure to spend long periods on the defensive. But it was Okehampton that began the second half in spirited fashion as they went through the phases and applied pressure in Crediton?s 22. They were looking the more likely to get the next crucial score when things went awry. A speculative chip ahead was charged down by the visitors? centre Toms who re-gathered and ran three-quarters of the length of the pitch to cross for a score against the run of play. He converted his own try and with the score at 12-7 with the majority of the second half remaining, it was game on. The next quarter saw Crediton apply heavy pressure and Okehampton were forced to defend bravely. Crucially during this period Okehampton were disciplined enough not to give away penalties and forced Crediton to run the ball. They failed to break through and Okehampton managed to enter Crediton territory to relieve the pressure. Okehampton centre Luke Honeychurch intercepted a stray pass and although tackled just short of the line, the ball was recycled and spun left to winger Carey who broke a tackle to cross wide out. The conversion was missed but a crucial ten-point lead had been established. Although Crediton pressed again, two scores looked unlikely. Okehampton held firm and another valuable two league points had been earned. Okehampton know that they had not achieved the high standards of the previous week, but the opposition were much more competitive up front, and had forced them to dig deep in defence for the victory. l This Saturday sees a break from league action with a Devon Cup trip to league rivals Honiton.
