Western Counties West

Truro 3

Okehampton 11

OKEHAMPTON produced probably their best performance of the season so far to return from the city of Truro with four valuable points in the bag.

Not many teams travel to St Clement's Hill and return with an away win under their belts. This was a much improved display by the Okes, demonstrating commitment, intensity and desire in equal measure.

On an initially dry afternoon, the visitors played down the pitch into a slight headwind. They started brightly, and with centre Luke Honeychurch showing up well in attack early on, they made most of the early running. The game was an open one, although home scrum half Mark Richards was often looking to use the box kick as a main weapon of offense. The first quarter was proving to be an even one as predicted, with no real clear cut scoring chances created, and both sides testing each other out at scrum and lineout.

The Okes were on the ascend, and it was no real surprise when they scored after 25 minutes. Man of the match scrum half Joey Bruce, was the catalyst for the score as he broke from a midfield scrum, and linked twice with right winger Rob Fishleigh. It was the winger himself who finished the move, as he evaded several despairing tackles to cross for a fine five pointer. The conversion was missed.

The rain then came in a shower punctuated afternoon. It failed to dampen the Okes' spirits though as they continued to look the side most likely to be next on the scoreboard. With Tom McGratton putting in an all action display in the back row they created a handful of half chances, but were unable to produce the vital pass when required. Truro were heartened by Okes failure to capitalise, and finished the half with a rare attacking period of play which did not prove fruitful, due in no small part to a sterling defensive effort by the Okes.

Okehampton failed to maintain their first half performance in the opening exchanges of the second period however, and some slack midfield tackling allowed Truro to gain a penalty chance. Home fly half Matt Ayres missed the kick though, and was made to pay for his miss soon afterwards as Oke winger Craig Dennis slotted a similar effort to extend the visitors lead to eight points.

The Okes were still in the driving seat when fly half Gary Sizmur, blighted by injuries in recent times, and having a fine game in this pivotal position, was an unfortunate victim as he broke his arm in a midfield collision. Everyone's best wishes for a speedy recovery go out to Gary, and the side rallied in an effort to seal the victory.

Several knock-ons prevented the Okes stretching their lead; none more so than the one pass that went to ground after another fine Joey Bruce break with the try line his mercy. Truro's Chevy Reed finally got the hosts on the board with a penalty.

Truro were never really threatening the Okes whitewash and Craig Dennis slotted a difficult penalty with ten minutes remaining to calm the away sides' nerves.

In truth, bar one missed penalty, they never looked likely scorers in the time that remained, and Oke saw out the embers of the match in relative comfort..