Landscape League Okehamapton U16s 24 Crediton U16s 0 OKEHAMPTON won the toss and opted to play up the slope into the strong wind and just had the edge over Crediton by managing to keep most of the play in the middle half of the pitch. The best scoring chance came to new wing James Bird when he took the ball on half-way. He beat the first tackler but just put a foot on the touch line before going past the second just 10m out. No score at half-time meant that Crediton were going to have a hard second half. The Okehampton pack of Scott Simpson, Tom Richards, Michael Panton, Luke Crocker, Tom McGratton, Rob Long, Will Heard and Stuart Bennie picked up the pace, driving Crediton back in the mauls and setting good rucks, which meant they were able to pin Crediton in their own 22 for long periods. This allowed fly-half Carl Poynton to score on a wide blind-side. With the Okehampton scrum-half Richard Friend and flankers Long and Heard making life hard for the Crediton half-backs they were soon in their own 22 and from a series of rucks and mauls Will Heard dived over to score. The backs were now throwing the ball around with good pace and adventure. Centres Rory Honeychurch and David Binns both looked sharp when passing to wing Chris Hollands; full-back Jake Chisholm came into the line with real pace and making good yards, while there was some excellent support play by flanker Long, who scored two more tries. Poynton converted two and was unlucky with a third that bounced off the upright in difficult conditions. A good team performance, having not played for a month. l Okehampton are at home to Exmouth in the semi-final of the Devon Cup on Sunday, ko 11am — all support welcome.
