SATURDAY saw the final pre-season run-out for Okehampton RFC as the club staged a probables against possibles game to give decision makers a view of the players ahead of the selection for the first league game of the season this weekend.

On a fine afternoon 35 of the club’s players put on a good display of open, running rugby. Games like this can be something of a damp squib but this was a full on game with no quarter given. The strong display put in by all players augurs well for the coming season. The score did not matter, but three tries to one shows the standard of game that it was.

Players had been attending sessions throughout the summer to improve fitness and skills and since July pre-season training had been well attended. The aim of this game was to give the management team a good look at all the club’s players ahead of the new season.

That the match raised more questions than answers is testament to the players’ commitment.

Head coach Gareth Evans said after the game: ‘We got what we wanted, a full on game where the players could put the systems learned in training into practice. In my opinion the game went very well’.

Director of rugby at the club, Ross Medlyn, said: ‘The game was really good and encouraging for the coming season. The numbers of players available gives healthy competition for places.

‘They turned out today prepared to give it a real go and all credit to them. Selection for the first game next week will not be easy.’

The 2015-16 season starts on Saturday September 5 when the 1st XV are at home to Cornish rivals Penryn. The KO time is 3pm until the clocks change.

Information about the club’s activities can be found on the web site at www.pitchero.com/clubs/okehampton or on the Okehampton Rugby Club Facebook page. Membership is due from September 1 and subscription rates have been held at the same levels as last year. The junior section of the club is holding its registration night on Friday September 4.