Devon and Cornwall League
Okehampton 23
Hayle 13
A COMBINATION of determined Cornish opponents and a bad day at the office for the hosts, left home players and supporters feeling disappointed in equal measure, but at least the Okes came away with two points.
A home victory was imperative to keep up the challenge for promotion and the early signs were promising for the Okes. They created a couple of openings out wide and forced passes when simply pinning their ears back may have produced greater rewards.
A couple of kickable penalties were also squandered in a scrappy opening quarter. Hayle were determined to make life difficult and with their bulky forwards and backs they provided a stern test all over the park.
The visitors struck first through a penalty goal but it was a short lived lead as the returning Lee Carey found his range to level the scores at three apiece. Almost straight from the kick off Oke made a string of errors culminating in another penalty chance for the visitors which was taken to restore their lead.
The referee binned a player from each side and the game struggled to have any flow.
Carey for Okes levelled the scores with another penalty kick before the first half's major incident occurred. From a scrum, a punch seemed to be thrown by the visitors' prop forward and the referee had no hesitation in issuing a red card.
The interval approached and with another 40 minutes aided by the slope and the visitors pack being one short, it appeared the points were there for the taking.
However the second half started with the visitors playing better while a man light. They attacked deep into the home side's 22 and after battering away, they finally crossed for a try through their hefty centre and took a shock 13-6 lead after the score was converted.
Shocked and surprised, Oke knew they had to get back to their strengths of moving the ball and playing with width and pace to wrestle back control of the match. They managed this sporadically and it was not long before Lee Carey reduced the arrears with a very well struck long range penalty to reduce the deficit to 13-9.
The home side's first try followed soon after as the ball was moved blind to winger Tom Powell. He was initially clear but covering defenders came across and he seemed sure to be tackled into touch. However, to his credit he scooted up the touchline untouched and ran around under the posts for a fine individual, converted score.
This lifted the home spirits and Oke were gaining ascendancy in the set scrum, and it was from one such set piece that they eventually took the lead. Centre Brimmacombe was fed short, running ran a hard straight line; it looked as if he would go all the way, but he was hauled down just short, but was able to find number eight Ali Mason in fine support to take the scoring pass. Carey converted and Oke were ten points clear.
There was to be no more scoring as the home side failed to improve their points difference against the 14 men. Two valuable points were gained but Oke know they can, and must, play much better than this to achieve the goal of promotion.
• Okehampton face a tough away fixture on Saturday with a rearranged trip to Wellington.