OKEHAMPTON U12s travelled to St Michael?s School, Barnstaple, with a squad of 14 players.

Okehampton were drawn against hosts Barnstaple, Crediton and South Molton. Their first game was against Crediton who tackled and spoiled well. Okehampton?s first try came from a tap penalty, quickly taken by Will Heard to Mason Whittle who drove over to score.

The second half produced some good driving rucks and mauls, pushing Crediton back to their own line with Mason again scoring, final score 10-0.

Okehampton next played Barnstaple, always a tough and close encounter. Barnstaple, playing down the slope in the first half, dominated, but excellent tackling kept them from scoring.

In the second half Okehampton had the advantage of the slope and dominated but could not break through the defence, final score 0-0.

This meant the team that scored the most tries in their final match would go through to the final.

Barnstaple played Crediton and won 20-0 meaning Okehampton had to score five tries against South Molton to win the league.

Okehampton started strongly with the forwards driving hard and gaining good ground and the ball being moved out through the backs well.

Mason scored the first try with a strong run from his own half. Okehampton forwards, Scott Simpson, Jonathan Trussler, Stuart Bennie, Ricci Cobb and Rob Long all drove hard at South Molton and recycled the ball quickly.

Heard at scrum half moved the ball well to either open or blind-side. Tom McGratton at centre carved through the defence with tremendous pace, only to be stopped just short of the line, Mason again driving over to score.

The second half started well with Robert Long scoring from a tap

penalty. South Molton rallied and managed to score and put pressure on, Michael Aalen and Jake Chisholm making some superb tackles.

Okehampton dominated in the final five minutes with Rob Long scoring two more and Mason one. Final score 30-5, leaving Okehampton at the top of the league to face present Devon champions, Ivybridge, in the final.

Okehampton started well with the forwards driving hard into Ivybridge and gaining ground but were unable to break the tackles, eventually losing the ball to the opposition who met superb defensive play from backs Alex Wooldridge and Richard Friend.

Ivybridge found it difficult to break through to score but eventually won by three tries to nil.

This was nonetheless an extremely good result for the young Okehampton squad against the top Devon team for this age group.