Tavistock U16s 5
Okehampton U16s 17
TAVISTOCK played up the slope and into the wind for the first half. The wind proved to be a problem for both sides with either the ball not going as far as expected or it travelling too far.
The Oke pack had a slight advantage in power which they used to keep pressure on the home side. However despite some good play it was a good 15 minutes before Oke could put any points on the board which came from a run by centre Dean Folland scoring a try which was converted by Liam Wilkins.
The Oke backs had to defend well to stop Tavistock getting close to the Oke try line and the score stayed at 7-0 for the first half.
The second half started with not just wind blowing down the pitch into the faces of the Oke team but also rain. With some good rucking over the ball by Dean Abrams and Jake Barber, Oke got to keep the ball moving but without adding any points to their score. Some sustained pressure by Tavistock saw an Oke player sin binned and while a player down Tavy scored a deserved try. Oke then kept Tavistock in their own half with some good play which Daniel Lee used to cross the line for Okes' second try.
Play continued with both sides trying to put pressure on the opposing backs but with the pack advantage Oke won most scrums and made some telling runs to gain ground. Dean Abrams scored for Oke to give them a 17-5 lead and despite Oke coming close to scoring more with a couple of attempts being judged as double movements, the game finished at 17-5.
This was hard well fought win by Oke against a good opposition.