Devon and Cornwall League

Okehampton RFC 14

Penryn 15

THIS was a typical hard fought top of the table encounter, paying homage to the rugby cliché, a 'game of two halves' but ultimately the visitors came out on top, due in no small part to their forwards, who starved Oke of the ball and set the platform for an effective away performance.

Kicking off down the slope, Okehampton started with vigour and were soon well placed in their Cornish visitors' 22 and applying pressure. The Okes set scrummage, which was an area of home dominance all match, drove at a close range set piece and Penryn's scrum splintered. The exchange referee had seen enough and awarded Oke a penalty try. Fly half Gary Sizmur stroked over the conversion and Oke were off to the best possible start.

Oke's lineout was secure and the visitors were mainly content to drive around the fringes through their well drilled pack. They spent considerable time in the Oke half without ever really threatening a score. Oke defended passionately, as they did all game, and forced their way back down field. Realising they were not making much headway punching holes close in, Penryn started to force the offloads. It was from one such risky pass that Gary Sizmur read the intent; plucked an interception and gleefully ran it in to stretch the home side's lead. Completing the job himself, he slotted the conversion.

The Okes were now 14-0 clear, and although not entirely dominant; were comfortable as the half-time whistle blew.

Soon in the second period the Penryn forwards drove into the heart of the home side's defence. They shipped the ball wide and full back Chris Mann strolled in to reduce the deficit.

The pattern of the match was changing; the visitors were now camped in Oke's half and the home pack were failing to win enough ball to test the visitors' defence.

Oke were defending manfully but were now on the back foot for long periods. A home clearance kick was charged down, and Penryn crossed again in the same bottom left corner to really set the home nerves jangling.

Scrum half Peacock again missed the conversion, but with plenty of the half remaining, and Oke failing to create any scoring chances, things were looking ominous.

The match entered the last quarter and Oke were holding on, but only just. They lost two consecutive lineouts and were again stuck deep in their own 22 under pressure.

There is only so long that a side's defence can hold out, and being starved of possession and not being able to clear their lines meant Oke were stretched to breaking point. Again, the visitors drove up the middle, sucked in the home defence and a simple passing movement created the winning score for full back Mann. The conversion was again unsuccessful.

The whistle blew and the visitors were ecstatic at gaining revenge for their defeat in the reverse fixture, they knew that the title is now theirs to lose.

The Okes had battled fiercely, defended vigorously and out scrummaged the visitors. Ultimately though their younger, smaller side came off second best in several facets and they were unable to gain enough possession and territory to snatch a victory.

There is still much to play for though, and Oke will pick themselves back up from this and travel onto North Devon next week away against Bideford.