South West one West

Okehampton firsts 45

Thornbury 21

Okehampton firsts 45

Thornbury 21

THE afternoon sunshine that greeted the Okes as they ran out to face their Bristol based visitors ensured the match would go ahead and that the surface would be firm enough to provide an open, entertaining encounter.

After numerous recent cancellations and a tough set of  fixtures, the Okes were looking forward to hosting a fellow mid-table side, in a fixture that offered the chance to reinforce their strong home record. 

The maroon and amber ranks were boosted by the return of Nash, Trerise, Harrison-Browne, Friend and Abrams. Oke won a toss to ensure they would play up the slope during the first half. However, it was the visitors who came out of the blocks the fastest as they lay siege to the Oke line during the early exchanges. Twice the Thorns came close before they crossed for the game’s opening try after 11 minutes.

The Okes failed to defend a five metre lineout and flanker Jak Evans, who was later to leave the field through injury, crossed for a five pointer their early pressure had merited. Full back Jake Wood added two well struck extras.

This stirred the Okes from their initial slumbers and they were soon entering the visitors’ 22 for the first time. The home side were awarded a penalty ten metres out and chose to scrummage rather than kick for the corner. The plan paid off as captain Tom McGrattan broke blind from the base and crossed for the Okes’ first five pointer off the afternoon. Former Tom Powell slotted the conversion from mid way out on the right to level things up.

The Okes were now on top and nearly extended their lead after 22 minutes when Dan Foggarty intercepted in his own half and raced clear. Thornbury full back Wood showed good pace to get back to haul him down though and the chance was gone.

The Okes’ set scrum was now increasingly imposing itself with George Trerise’s clean lineout ball. 

The half hour mark soon passed and little looked on as Richie Friend launched a box kick deep in the home half. Oke winger Kieran Lee had other ideas though and a superb chase and leap saw the wide man regather and set off upfield; he found Dan Foggarty in support on the inside and the Okes’ number ten dashed for the line. Once more Wood covered across and looked set to deny another score, however this time Foggarty used a strong fend to evade the tackle and dive over to give the Okes the lead. The conversion was missed, but the Okes were now well on top.

Unfortunately Okes then switched off and in the five minutes remaining of  the first 40 they slipped off tackles, allowing the visitors to score two tries in quick succession through Williams and Poustie. This left Oke trailing 21-12 after having much the better of the first half for long periods.

The match restarted, the wind and slope were now in the host’s favour and the Okes knew a strong second half would still see them home.

Luke Simmons had replaced Foggarty at ten and the Okes used the boot during the second 40 to better effect than they had in previous weeks. An early score ended with man of the match Dean Abrams ploughing over wide left. The returning flanker put in a tremendous shift throughout in both attack, and particularly, defence. Tom Powell added the extra two and the deficit was now a mere two points.

Thornbury were not lying down though and the next ten minutes saw them back on the offensive, applying pressure deep in the Okes’ 22. It was not until the match entered its last quarter, with all the bench now on, that the Okes were back on attack in Thornbury territory.

After 63 minutes replacement prop Joe Mawle was held up over the try line and a five metre scrum was awarded. The Okes chose to move the ball wide from the base and Thorns out half Poustie was adjudged to have deliberately knocked on attempting an intercept, and was sent go the bin. The Okes elected to kick the resultant penalty from in front off the posts but somehow Powell’s effort slid wide. 

Okes were still searching for the vital next score and 68 minutes had elapsed when it finally arrived. Martin Harrison-Browne was now on at number eight and after the Okes’ eight had demolished Thorns at a set scrum, the Okes player coach picked up and offloaded to the always present Richie Friend, who raced over to regain the lead. Tom Powell atoned for his earlier miss with a superb conversion from out wide.

The Okes were now looking to seal the deal and direct from the restart Joe Mawle gathered and fed Karl Pearce , rampaging in the wide channels. The lock broke a tackle and fed left winger Kieran Lee who scorched down the flank before gleefully diving over for the Okes’ fifth try, and second in two minutes.

Ten points ahead with less then ten minutes remaining the Okes were now rampant. The sixth try was soon to follow, this time from another clean lineout.

The ball was moved to midfield where centre Rhys Palmer made an incisive break, before offloading to right winger Brandon Horn who raced in under the bar to leave an easy conversion for Tom Powell, making it 38-21 to the home side.

The Okes still found time for the seventh score of a profitable afternoon before the close. Yet again clean lineout ball of the top was the catalyst, a backs move then ending with Dan Foggarty, now restored to the fray, racing over for his brace of five pointers. Richie Friend potted the final conversion and the five points were sealed as the ref blew to signal the end of a very entertaining encounter.

Credit to Thorns who played their part in an open game, Okes ultimately had too much in the second period, and will be boosted by this welcome bonus point win.

Okehampton are home to Keynsham on Saturday at 2.30pm.