Devon and Cornwall League

Saltash RFC 3

Okehampton RFC 46

ON a grey, moist afternoon, the Okes ventured to Moorlands Lane for the first time in the league and came away with a comprehensive, efficient victory.

The Okes were expected to emerge victorious against a side struggling in the lower echelons of the table although Saltash had run several sides close on their home turf.

The visitors started up the slope and despite the damp conditions they tried to move the ball whenever possible and tested the Saltash defence throughout the initial exchanges.

Okehampton over anxiously squandered a few chances before the boot of Lee Carey put them three nil up with a successful penalty. The lead was short-lived though, as the Ashes, on a rare foray into the Okes' territory, levelled with a penalty of their own. That was as good as it got for the home side as they spent the rest of the match on the back foot, trying to stem the tide of regular attacks from an Okehampton side that dominated in all areas.

It was not long before the Okes took one of their many chances and retook the lead. A well worked backs move saw Lee Carey come off his blind side wing to crash under the uprights for a score he converted himself. This score was added to before the interval as prop Nick Martin showed good support skills as he popped up on the end of another attacking thrust to cross under the posts for another converted try.

With a 17-3 interval lead the Okes were well on top, although it maybe should have been more as 'white line' fever and a propensity to run the ball down the slope contributed to this.

However, the Okes dominated the second half and the scores came at regular intervals. First Carey added another penalty; this was followed by a try from returning full back Gareth Espin, who crossed right of the uprights after a five metre scrum; yet again Carey converted.

The Okes brought on their remaining replacements and the scores kept coming. First a penalty try was awarded after an infringement at a five metre scrum; then good hands enabled centre Luke Honeychurch to score in the right hand bottom corner. For the first time Carey missed a conversion but the hosts were now hoping for the final whistle.

The last try was probably the best as at last swift hands up the slope enabled winger Tom Powell to have a clear run in, and he dived in at the corner for a fine score that was excellently converted from the touchline by Luke Honeychurch.

This was a dominant performance by Okehampton and a welcome return to winning ways.

Okehampton are at home to Truro this week and welcome support for this important match that could deciding both club's fate and defeat would seriously dent the losers promotion aspirations.

Teignmouth Seconds 7

Okes Seconds 17

WITH Okehampton Seconds fielding several experienced players on a hard sandy pitch, it was not going to be easy. However, playing with the elements, a few good phases of play later, the Okes' veteran fly-half Mark Curtis found Dave Wills cutting a lovely line to score the first of his two tries.

The second came from simple quick second phase ball, that was moved wide for Wills to touch down; Mark Curtis converted.

Going into the second half Okehampton were playing into the wind and wondered if 12 points were going to be enough.

Teignmouth started the half strongly and after prolonged pressure they managed to break the Okes' defence and score a converted try.

Okehampton now turned defensive pressure into attack with Max Samson and Simon Griffiths winning some good turnover ball, and several players making charging runs into the Teignmouth defence.

Sam Turner, who was the Okes' man of the match, scored a well deserved try after a good period of pressure; this was the last score of the match and with both sides committing a lot of offences the game stuttered to a finish.

This was another good hard win and keeps Okehampton Seconds flying high at the top of the league.