South?West One

Okehampton 22

Thornbury 10

AFTER a disappointing defeat at Teignmouth, Okehampton produced a disciplined and committed performance to comfortably defeat one of the league’s top sides.

The Okes were determined to right the wrongs of their last outing and they did that in spades with an impressive effort from the whole team. On a dark and damp moorland afternoon, the Okes played up the slope first half and set off at pace.

They monopolised early possession and territory but failed to make any serious inroads. The visitors, on an impressive run, and established as one of the SW1 front-runners, absorbed what the Okes threw at them in the early stages and had the reliable boot of full back Tom Luke to alleviate the pressure when required.

After seven minutes, with the visitors settling down, they entered Oke territory and after several phases were awarded a kickable penalty. Luke, usually a ten by trade, slotted it with ease to give the Thorns the early advantage. Despite the recent weather the pitch was in reasonable condition and both sides looked to move the ball. Thorns kicked long after ten minutes and Oke gathered looking to spread the ball and counter attack. Unfortunately the last pass was well read by visiting centre Rob Higgitt who intercepted and raced home to extend the lead, and in turn benefit from the fourth interception try Oke have gifted so far this campaign. Again the Okes were frustrated with themselves as gifting the opposition scores was becoming an unnecessary and unwanted habit.

Oke regrouped and began to produce some decent rugby. Impressive handling ensued in far from ideal conditions as the match reached the end of the first quarter. Slick offloads and powerful charges from the increasingly impressive Oke pack saw the Thorns conceded a penalty after 22 minutes. The shot at goal from Kevin Dennis struck the upright and rebounded into the arms of a grateful Thorns defender and the chance was gone. Oke gained confidence from this attacking spell, though, and continued to test the visitors’ defence through forwards and backs alike.

Twenty seven minutes were on the clock when the hosts finally broke through for their opening five pointer courtesy of Okes dynamic centre duo.

Fly half Dan Foggarty chipped over the flat Thorns defensive line and the onrushing Kevin Dennis regathered neatly before offloading to his midfield partner Rhys Palmer. A tap tackle saw the young centre momentarily halted, but he had the wherewithal to get back to his feet and crash over despite being in the grasp of another tackle. Dennis added the conversion and the Okes were right back in the contest and slowly gaining the upper hand. 

Oke continued to secure plenty of possession, despite the odd line-out misfire, and as the match approached the interval, they applied yet more pressure in the visitors’ 22. The Okes were awarded a penalty bang in front but took a quick tap looking searching for another five pointer. The decision backfired as the ball was held up short, however the visitors were reduced to 14 men as the yellow card was brandished for persistent infringement. The Okes still had another chance to take the lead before the break but an attacking five-metre scrum was thwarted as Oke conceded an unnecessary penalty to bring the first half to a close.

Still only three points in arrears and with the elements in their favour for the second half, the home players and fans alike were hopeful of a significant victory. In actual fact the home side went on to produce one of their most dominant halves of the campaign so far, securing more possession than they were previously accustomed to. 

The home pack grafted manfully throughout and after 55 minutes they were rewarded for their efforts with a penalty and this time Oke wisely chose to go for goal.

Kevin Dennis duly obliged from the tee and the sides were now locked at ten points apiece. The home half backs began to kick effectively to the corners and the visitors struggled to escape the increasing muddy confines of their own 22.

Oke were strangling the life out of their opponents at this point and a try looked increasingly likely. It finally arrived after 64 minutes and it was apt that two of Oke’s outstanding performers on the day were involved. Prop Nicky Martin, impressive on his first team return, made another forceful foray off the fringes and eventually Oke found themselves controlling an attacking ruck in the bottom left hand corner.

It was flanker Chris Courtier, capping a superb all round match, who once again carried with strength and purpose to force his way over to seize a well deserved lead for the maroon and ambers.

Dennis hit the bar with the conversion attempt, but Oke now had a lead they were determined not to relinquish.

Thorns weren’t done yet, however, and they found themselves back in the Okes half after the home side had failed to clear their lines effectively. To ironic cheers from the home crowd the visitors were awarded a kickable penalty as the Okes were penalised for offside in midfield . Uncharacteristically Tom Luke pulled the attempted three pointer wide of the mark and the Okes five-point lead remained intact as the match entered the last 13 minutes.  The match was still not secure for the hosts though, and it took an excellent turnover from influential skipper Tom Mcgrattan after 75 minutes to allow the Okes to re-enter Thorns territory.

Oke continued to seek the match sealing score and in the last minutes the visitor’s resistance finally wilted. Scrum half Richie Friend, reveling in the conditions, made another defence testing foray in the channels and this time broke clear.

The Oke number nine showed good strength and a decent hand off as he slid over by the posts to seal the victory. Kevin Dennis punted over the extra two and there was little time for a Thorns fightback.

Shortly afterwards Friend booted the ball off the park as the exchange referee signalled for time and the home players and spectators celebrated another notable home victory against a very useful outfit.

A superb all round team effort by an Oke side that is becoming increasingly hard to beat on their own patch.

With the seconds as strong as they have ever been, boasting another 50 pt victory this week, competition for places is fierce and that can only be good for the club moving forward.

Okes now need to find their true form on the road, and there would be no better place to start than on Torridgeside as the Okes travel to Bideford to resume old rivalries next Saturday, kick-off 2.30pm. It’s sure to be a cracker so make sure you don’t miss it.