Okehampton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Barnstaple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
IN this specially arranged match as a prequel to the millennium president's game, Okehampton played an entertaining Barnstaple U15 side who made the most of the sticky conditions and were always asking questions of the Okehampton defence.
Despite the home side pressurising them in their own 22 Barnstaple's fly half Mark Galliford ran the ball selling two dummies before sprinting around Okehampton's backs to score a converted try.
A second followed soon after with an opportunist try from Ian Chan who stripped the ball from the opposition before racing 25 yards to score near the posts.
The try duly converted, Barnstaple led 14-0 at the break.
Okehampton made little of their possession with wasted chances and poor decisions.
Tackling was average but the real difference between the teams was down to the basics.
Pitts-Tucker on the wing and Marshall at full back provided some excitement for the home supporters but that was not enough to put points on the board.
Playing downhill in the second half Okehampton started well with both Taylor and Herrod-Taylor crossing the try line but both were held up and denied a try.
The pressure finally paid off when a penalty in the 22 was passed wide with Marshall coming at pace from full back to speed around the wing to score.
This lifted the home side and they played with more commitment.
Luck however fell Barnstaple's way with a charged down kick going straight into their centre's hands and fly half Galliford looping to score in the left corner.
The visitors finished with a flourish, Neil Ayre retrieving a kick ahead scoring the final try to win 24-5.