Western Counties West

Exeter Saracens 21

Okehampton 17

THIS was a second consecutive away defeat for a patched up Okehampton side, as a charged down kick in the last minute cost them three league points.

All sides have peaks and troughs in a league season, and the Okes are currently experiencing one such slump in form. Despite having two players return from injury, four others were absent this week, this was further compounded as two more left the field injured during the course of this match.

The Okes recent record at Saracens did not bode well, but the patched up visitors did make a decent fist of the early exchanges.

Stand in stand off Andrew Brimmacombe had a steady match, and he was the hub of several useful half breaks in the first quarter. Fellow half back Joey Bruce was his usual lively self around the base, and made several clean breaks which unfortunately his team mates were unable to keep up with. It was inevitable that a score would soon arrive, however it was the hosts who posted the points, albeit against the run of play. A break away and kick ahead from their own half resulted in an unconverted corner try for Martin Dibble, as the home side took an early 5-0 lead.

The Okes were gaining possession aplenty with the lineout a particular source of clean ball as Tom McGratton, who had a fine game in the back row, ruled the airways. One such lineout was the catalyst for the Okes' first try, as prop Nicky Martin peeled away from a driving maul and forced his way over for a converted try to give the Okes a lead their early ascendancy required.

Straight from the kick-off the Okes gave away a penalty for holding on. The kick was good and Saracens led by a point after half an hour. Okehampton responded and replacement back Craig Dennis, on for a hamstrung Rob Fishleigh, slotted a penalty to regain the lead. It was an advantage the visitors were to hold until the break, although they were fortunate to do so, as first a penalty hit an upright, and then inexplicably the home centre Croft, after battering his way through some weak midfield defence, crossed and ran around towards the posts only to drop the ball in the act of grounding it.

Exeter started the second half on the front foot as the Okes started to sit back. A penalty from the home fly half regained them the lead, and Gaz Williams saw yellow for the Okes as they tried to stem the tide.

The home side used their man advantage well though, and scored their second try when blind side winger Darren Light joined an attack, brushing off some half hearted tackles to cross and take the score to 16-10 in Saracens favour with a quarter of the match remaining.

The Oke regrouped and forced a series of five metre scrums rewarded with a penalty, which Dennis converted from in front to give the visitors a narrow one point advantage entering the last few minutes. Oke fortunes then turned as young winger Darcy Heard fell foul of a stray boot and laid motionless on the flank. Play was held up for some time as an ambulance was called. Eventually play resumed in an attempt to see out the last four minutes. The Okes then threw away their advantage with virtually the last play, as a clearance kick on their own line was charged down and grounded for the winning score by the home side.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for the visitors, but in truth their injury hit side had not really deserved a victory based on another lacklustre performance.