Tiverton U16s 10

Okehampton U16s 53

OKEHAMPTON and Tiverton played with a mixture of U15s in each side. Tiverton started strongly and rucked their way to an unconverted try. Okehampton were slow to wake up, despite Cox, Searle and Turner showing the way. After weathering 15 minutes of pressure they opened with a converted try as Herrod-Taylor scythed through the Tiverton midfield from full back.

West was dominant in the line and was driven over for a score from five metres. Tiverton replied quickly with a quick penalty from five metres for an unconverted try. Cox then showed them he could do the same job and dived over for a copy-cat try to end the half 10-17.

Okehampton responded to the half-time talk and gave good possesion to the halfbacks Sizmur and Down, spread the ball wide and scored six tries. Pavelley, Martin and Honeychurch played excellent rugby as U15?s and linked well with their older team-mates. Honeychurch scored one try and all three were close at other times.

Ball was flowing through the centres with Clarke and Woods cutting through the opposition and Woods scoring himself and linking with the wings. Brookes scored twice.

Bird at number 8 revelled in the extra space as he usually plays prop. Lawrence had an excellent game in attack and defence, always in support and timing his pass to draw the tackler.

Captain Cox led by example scoring his second try and made ground with many surging drives. Turner had an outstanding game at second row, roaming the field in search of work, engulfing Tiverton runners and driving over and through them with ball in hand to score a well deserved try.

Herrod-Taylor slotted four of the nine conversions, many from the touchline, and hit the posts twice with the others just short or wide.

This week home to Bideford combined U15/16 side.