Devon and Cornwall League

Penryn 30

ON a cold but dry New Year's afternoon, Okehampton travelled to Penryn, a fellow mid table side looking to avenge an early season defeat in the reverse league fixture. Conditions were firm, but eminently playable and both sides contributed to an open game that offered the spectators a welcome dose of festive rugby after all the recent weather induced cancellations.

Ultimately the Okes were to come up short losing by the odd try in seven. They started in great style as they carried on their good form that they showed in the Boxing Day victory over Crediton.

The Okes decided to move the ball wide from the off and they caught Penryn napping in the first minutes of the match. The ball was spread to left winger Matt Dennis, who stood up his opposite man and then rounded him in fine style for a try in the left corner. The conversion failed, but not for the first time this season the Okes had scored within minutes of the kick off on their travels.

Unfortunately there was no period of consolidation as the first signs of defensive frailties that would ultimately cost the visitors the match, became apparent. A quick tap penalty, and some weak midfield tackling allowed Penryn's left winger to cross for an unconverted try, equalising the score within minutes.

The tit for tat scoring continued apace as the Okes responded almost immediately. The crowd were beginning to wonder if a basketball score was on the cards as, from a midfield scrum, scrum half Richie Friend shot through a blind side gap and scampered in for a try under the posts, converted by fly half Carl Poynton. Once more the lead was short lived as powerful home number eight James Mann forced his way over from close range to tie up the scores.

It was already apparent that Okes' backs were threatening whenever they got the ball, but Penryn's bulky pack and direct running were going to ask plenty of questions of the visitor's defensive technique. It was this defence that was soon lacking as another direct charge found holes in the Okes midfield as the home centre shook off some weak tackling to cross mid way out on the left for another unconverted try. The home side now led 17-12 with barely a quarter of the match gone.

Play settled down slightly and the next two scores went the visitor's way as fly half Poynton slotted two well struck penalties to grab the lead back for Okehampton. With half time approaching, Oke stretched their lead as centre Luke Honeychurch chased a Poynton up and under. He gathered the bouncing ball and showed good pace and persistence to outrun the scrambling home defence and cross in the clubhouse corner. The conversion was missed but turning around at half time with the slope in their favour and with a six point lead, things looked rosy for the Okes.

The second period saw possession and territory swing the home's side's way. The visitors started to make bad decisions and it cost them. Firstly they tried to run a penalty awarded in their own 22 when kicking for touch would have been the sensible option. Possession was turned over and fly half Poynton had to leave the field injured as a result. The hosts got their tails up and more slipshod tackling allowed a soft try under the posts for their replacement wing. This was converted and the Okes had to come from behind once more.

They failed to do this though, as injuries meant more changes. The home side began to win the majority of set pieces and the lack of a recognised kicker cost the Okes as two penalty kick chances slid by the uprights.

Experienced Penryn scrum half Pascoe began to dictate play as the home tactic of box kicking from the base proved effective. Okehampton conceded two kickable penalties into the last quarter and Pascoe made no mistake with either effort.

With time running out and with a seven point deficit the Okes strove for an equalising score, but despite their backs still causing problems, they were not able to win enough ball to create a scoring opportunity. Penryn kept possession and when the final whistle went celebrated a victory which owed much to their pack's second half superiority.

* Okehampton will look to return to wining ways this Saturday, when weather permitting local rivals Tavistock will be the opposition.