Western Counties (West)

Okehampton 8

Truro 19

AFTER last week's win, the Okes were hopeful of another good performance despite still missing several regulars. Unfortunately they never really got out of second gear against a side aiming for promotion after several recent near misses.

The home side were giving away a significant size advantage. However, the visitors were a younger, fitter side than last week's opponents and they also kept possession better. This meant Oke spent long periods without the ball and never really managed to generate spells of concerted pressure.

The game kicked off and almost immediately the referee went down injured. He was unable to continue and the official from the back pitch match took his place.

The Okes played up the slope but there was not much action in the opening quarter. Visiting full back Champion, who slotted everything offered all afternoon, opened with a penalty for the visitors. Home fly half Poynton soon replied in kind.

Champion later added another penalty to stretch the visitors' lead and approaching half time the Okes were happy to be only just trailing with the slope advantage to come.

The Okes were under pressure at scrum time and struggling to find their jumpers on their own line outs. Without the ball they could not unleash their backs. Eventually this resulted in Truro pressure in the home 22. From this Truro scored the game's opening try as forward Tucker drove over to the left of the uprights. Champion duly converted and Oke were ten points behind at the interval.

The hosts started the second half well. They got into the Truro 22 and applied plenty of pressure but were unable to break through. Several opportunities went awry and Poynton missed a difficult penalty chance. Truro escaped their defensive shackles and attacked sufficiently to earn another penalty that Champion once again slotted.

The Okes were still surprisingly flat and the visitors went further ahead with yet another Champion penalty.

In the last ten minutes, the home side were 16 points behind but knew a bonus point was still a possibility. Scrum half Richie Friend took a quick tap penalty award within the Truro 22 and burrowed over for what was ultimately no more than a consolation score.

n Next week the Okes are away to unbeaten Penryn, kick-off 3pm.