Bideford Colts 21

Okehampton Colts 22

OKEHAMPTON started well, kept the pressure on and Bideford conceded a penalty kick to the corner. From the well taken catch and drive from the lineout Okehampton drove over the try line and Bideford collapsed the maul — the referee awarded a penalty try which was converted by Kevin Dennis.

The Okehampton front row of Scott Simpson, Brad Hudson and Tom Richards were giving their opposite numbers a tough time in the scrums and even took some balls against the head.

Bideford managed to score a converted try in return after some sloppy play by Okehampton. No 8 Will Hawkins then scored off a five-metre scrum just before the break to give a half-time score of 12-7 to Okehampton.

Will Heard and Merrick Kirby won good lineout ball but Okehampton eased off the pressure and allowed Bideford to start running with the ball and run in two more converted tries to take the lead.

This fired Okehampton again – Rob Long and Scott Simpson both gained good yards with the ball in hand and with the welcome return of Carl Poynton, after time off with injury, the ball was moving well in the back line for full-back Jack Phare to take it out wide, getting tackled just short of the try line. Flanker Luke Crocker picked up and drove over to score, Poynton converted.

Okehampton came straight back from the kick-off, Bideford conceding a penalty from the pressure and Carl Poynton kicked the penalty to win the game on the final whistle.

l Tom McGratton, Richard Friend, Stuart Bennie and Jake Chisholm all played in the U18 County game against Somerset on Sunday at Bristol, unfortunately Devon lost 6-10.

This Sunday sees the final of the county games with Devon playing Gloucester at Crediton, kick-off 12.30pm followed by Cornwall v Somerset.