Okehampton U15s/16s 31
Bideford U15s/16s 7
BIDEFORD shocked the home side with their resilience and workrate in the first half.
Okehampton, playing with unfamiliar team-mates, could not gel together and link phases, unlike the opposition who play together regularly.
Both sides tackled well and created opportunities but were unable to finish the moves off with a try. Okehampton finally took a chance of points with a penalty five metres in from touch and 40 metres from the line. Herrod-Taylor struck the ball sweetly for the three points in the last few minutes of the half.
Changes at half-time settled the home side with eight, nine and ten in their usual positions and forming the platform of attacks.
The tight five began to dominate with strong running in the loose. Superior fitness and playing downhill helped provide four tries for Okehampton.
Cox began the onslaught when he caught a crossfield kick and outskirted the defenders.
Bideford replied with a converted try before Cox picked up a second from another fly half kick, receiving the scoring pass from Matt Dennis.
Cox grabbed a third from close support play. Turner scored the fourth with a strong run and drive to the corner.
Five out of five out of kicks from Herrod-Taylor increased the gap to give the visitors no chance of a comeback.