Devon and Cornwall

Okehampton 20

North Petherton 0

THIS was a courageous performance by a very young Okehampton side, shorn of several regulars, ultimately saw the home side to a gritty and deserved opening day victory.

A decent crowd saw Okehampton elect to play up the incline with the aid of a slight breeze in the fist half.

Despite giving away several stones and inches up front, the young Okes' pack started brightly and supplied enough ball for the home side's lively backs to create some early openings.

In fact it was the Okes' backs that struck the opening blow, after a good period of pressure; quick ball was moved to the right and versatile right winger Kev Dennis, newly promoted from the Colts, crossed for the opening try. Fly half Karl Poynton kicked the conversion.

Petherton lost a prop through injury and they continued to make basic handling errors. They struggled for mobility in the hot conditions and their main form of attack was the rolling maul, punctuated by the occasional foray around the fringes.

The Okes continued to front up and played the majority of the attacking rugby in the first half. They were rewarded before the interval with a penalty from the prolific Poynton who demonstrated his growing maturity throughout the game with his astute tactical kicking from hand — giving the home side a ten point lead at half-time.

The second period began and it became a war of attrition as the visitors took the lion's share of possession. The Oke defence was solid though but the Okes did not win enough ball to really test the visitors' defence out wide in the second half.

Having soaked up considerable pressure the Okes breached the visitor's 22 entering the last quarter, and once more it was Poynton who stretched the lead with a simple penalty potted from bang in front of the uprights.

Petherton had a last push for a score as the game entered the final quarter but the Okes held firm before ace poacher centre Luke Honeychurch snaffled the interception and ran the length of the field unopposed for the final score. Poynton converted and there was barely time for the game to restart.

n This week the Okes play Truro at home, kick-off 3pm.