MEMBERS attending the Okehampton Rugby Club annual meeting recently heard how hopes of the club quickly resuming its place in the prestigious Western Counties League were misplaced.

The Devon and Cornwall League provided the team with some daunting fixtures, especially the virtually semi-professional side, Mounts Bay (Penzance and Newlyn).

It was felt the Devon and Cornwall League was right for the club at this time, and the days when Okehampton could afford to compete once more in the mostly paid Western Counties could be some way off.

Fourth position in the Devon and Cornwall League was perhaps satisfactory, members were told, and a good spell of wins mid-season gave signs a better place was achievable.

The first XV are quite a young side with the potential to do well next season. They will be under the leadership of Steve Alford, who missed much of last season due to a severe injury. Lee Carey will be the vice captain, both are young players of considerable ability and have come up through the Colts side.

The second XV also had a very good season under Adam Curtis who is replaced by Evan Rees. It is hoped that under Jerry Oven?s guidance some of the club?s promising Colts players can be introduced to senior rugby.

The Colts team under the care of Andy Ewan played several games with varying degrees of success. They have a very full programme of games to come, hoping to recruit several of the highly promising players from last season?s Under 16?s team. This team truly showed their class at Crediton where they beat Exmouth to win a countrywide cup competition.

Their season was made all the more memorable by Richard Bolt representing England at Under 16 level on three occasions, following in the footsteps of Tom Price and Mark Scrivenor.

At senior level, Julian White continued to hold his place with Leicester Tigers and England ? a terrific record for a junior club and a real tonic for Okehampton and the surrounding district.

The club treasurer Toby Daniel spoke of a season during which income fell from all sources. He warned the club that expenditure must be curbed to create a bigger cash reserve.

Mr Daniel said the club was clean of all debts, which was almost unique among sports clubs today. This was due to the ceaseless effort of many people and the generous support of the club?s many sponsors.

Rugby as played in Okehampton is very much a family affair, a fact referred to by Peter Balsom, the outgoing president.

He gave fulsome praise to the ladies of the club who he described as a brilliant team. Mr Balsom also spoke in glowing terms of the very fine youth section. ?Absolutely a credit in every respect to the club and rugby football,? he said.

The new president is Ross Campbell, former player and club stalwart, who takes office in what will be the 120th year of the club. Mr Campbell said he was very optimistic for the future, hoping Okehampton will remain a club which people will always be proud to be part of.

If you feel you would like to assist the club in any way, please contact Max Samson, the honourary secretary on 07944 035919.