Western Counties West League

Okehampton first XV 22

Penryn first XV 12

OKEHAMPTON's first home league match of the season saw them play host to Penryn, the side that pipped them to the Devon and Cornwall league title last season.

Penryn applied early pressure and Okehampton, as was to become a recurring theme, lost hooker Bruce Griffiths to injury almost immediately. The home side were being tested, particularly when dealing with the threat of the visitors' experienced and talented number eight and scrum half. Okehampton's defence held firm and they managed to break out and create a couple of half breaks that promised more than they ultimately delivered.

It was the visitors who struck first. An optimistic kick ahead ran over the home dead ball line, but had unluckily touched someone in flight. This resulted in a five metre scrum for the visitors, and their powerful number eight James Mann took advantage to bullock through an attempted tackle for a score that scrum half Pascoe converted. It was harsh on the hosts who looked sharper than in their first two league matches, their backs looked threatening and kicks ahead were causing panic in the Penryn rearguard.

It was from one such kick that Okehampton notched their first score. A good follow up allowed the loose ball to be collected and shipped right for centre Luke Honeychurch to cross. The conversion was unsuccessful but with the second half slope in their favour, a two point deficit was comfortable for the Okes.

With less than half an hour gone the home injury situation worsened, first centre Tom Powell was forced to leave the field, quickly followed by winger Matt Dennis with a shoulder injury. Okehampton reshuffled and were forced to put young second row Tom Mcgratton on the wing, with all replacements used up.

With half time looming a failure to put the ball into touch cost the home side dear. The visitors strung together several phases and their second row cantered in to the bottom right hand corner for an unconverted try.

Okes began the second period knowing the game was well within their grasp. The pack had a good shove on in the set scrum and there was enough ball being supplied from lineout and breakdown situations to allow the backs to test out the Penryn defence. The returning Lee Carey was now at centre and his ballast and forcefulness was creating space down the middle of the park but all Okehampton could manage was a penalty goal by fly half Gary Sizmur.

Young scrum half Joey Bruce, having a lively afternoon punctuated by some astute tactical kicking, gathered a loose ball on the retreat. He suddenly spotted a gap in the broken field and flew through it, crossing under the posts. Sizmur converted and Oke had the lead. Unfortunately in the build up to the try Okehampton replacement Luke Wonnacott was badly injured, leaving Okehampton to re-shuffle and left with just 14 men. Back rower Ali Mason moved to centre and continued with an outstanding defensive performance which demonstrated exactly why he will be badly missed when he departs.

The icing on the cake was added when fleet footed full back Gareth Espin took a ball again with seemingly nothing but a kick ahead. He cut a swathe through the visitor's defensive heart and wrong footed the full back before crossing for a superb individual try to wrap up a well earned victory. With the conversion Okehampton gained a richly deserved two points.

The levels of commitment, guile and endeavour were a large step forwards from the previous weeks and Oke now definately look capable of testing sides at this level. Next week brings a local derby away at Tavistock.