Torquay Colts 15

Okehampton Colts 29

PLAYING with a strong wind on a firm pitch the visitors were looking to first half benefit from the advantage of the elements.

From the start the hosts were under intense pressure but despite the Okes throwing everything at them the defensive line held firm.

Following a clearing kick and a number of well worked rucks, the visitors again approached the Torquay 22 but an attempt at a chip over the defence was miscued with the ball falling into the hands of the Torquay centre who outstripped attempts to catch him by sprinting the length of the pitch for the opening score.

Okehampton were soon back in attacking territory and following a ruck indiscretion , Sam Ewens slotted a penalty for the visitors.

A few minutes later the fly half slipped his defender to cross the line close to the posts for his team's first try, which he duly converted.

After a messed up restart it was not long before the Torquay defence was again under pressure but a penalty allowed them to clear there lines. From the resultant line out the Okes stole possession with Chris Courtier making a clean take. A perfectly formed maul saw the ball marched relentlessly towards the Torquay line with hooker Steven Paul touching down. Ewens converted to make the half time score 5-17 to the visitors.

The second half continued in similar vain. Plenty of possession and territory for the Dartmoor lads but the hosts defence was continuing to be a stubborn and determined barrier to breach.

Courtier and Folland were both in imperious form in in the line-out for Okehampton. From another fine catch and drive the Tics forwards eventually brought the maul to a halt. The ball was recycled cleanly and Luke Dennis outstripped the cover to score in the corner.

U16s Callum Pillivant and Billy Searle came on for Okehampton and made telling contributions.

It was a perfectly timed pass from Searle that allowed the influential Folland to break through the defensive line. He slipped a pass to Cooper who in turn delivered the scoring pass to wing James Balch that rounded off a flowing piece of rugby. Searle converted .

In the last 15 minutes the hosts fullback danced through some indifferent defence to score a try that was well converted.

A penalty to the hosts in the last minute of the game brought the score to 15-29 to the Okes with a bonus point secured.