Cup merit

Okehampton Colts 15

Barnstaple Colts 3

PLAYING with the wind the hosts found it difficult to assert any early advantage in this cup match with the Barnstaple team enjoying the better of both territory and possession — although no real threat was levied at the Okes line.

Once the home side found their range the game took a significant swing. The back line started to hit their lines and while the Barum defence was holding firm, Chris Swash and Giles Heard made their mark with forwards recycling ball quickly the back row of Sampson, Folland and Abrams capitalised with ground making runs off the breakdowns.

Direct running was beginning to cause problems for the visitors and from a defensive position fullback Dean Andrew ran the ball back with scrum half Nash taking the call from a storming run from Callum Pillivant on the blind side, the powerful lock took play deep into the Barum 22. Efficient recycling of possession saw the ball move forward and half backs of Nash and Petherbridge swung the ball wide through several pairs of hands to find back row player Abrams out wide to finish off an excellent passage of play for the first score.

Direct running paid dividends after the restart with some superb pick and drive work from the forwards proving difficult to defend against. The hosts galvanised themselves with one man down and denied the visitors any real advantage. The direct running proved successful although Liam Sampson did well to come out unscathed after a flat out collision with Barum's prop Ashley Crouch.

The Okes again threaten and with further excellent work from Abrams and Pillivant play was taken close to the visitors' line leading to fly half Petherbridge touching down; he duly converted to make it 12-0 at the end of the half to the Okes.

Early in the second half the Okes made some changes but with the visitors playing a territorial game kicking most possession deep into the hosts half it brought pressure on the Okes.

While Searle and Petherbridge worked together, some excellent box kicking from scrum half Nash Oke kept the defensive lines intact. The forwards moved play upfield with the resultant pressure allowing Petherbridge to extend the lead with a penalty.

This win for Oke Colts will lay down an important marker in the first game of the Cup Merit Table. Okehampton man of the match Dean Abrams.