Western Counties West

Truro 11

Okehampton 17

HAVING seen their Easter Saturday home game against Devonport Services fall foul of the weather, Okehampton travelled to high-riding Truro expecting a typical top-of-the table match.

Truro kicked-off with the stiff South Westerly breeze at their backs but the Okes were awarded a penalty from the first play. The subsequent line-out was lost and Truro’s Ashley Hosking made a great kick to the corner. Oke defended well but play was typically scrappy with neither side able to establish any dominance.

Oke full back Gareth Espin made touch with an excellent kick and the Oke eight began to exert real pressure on the larger Truro pack. However, with play on 23 minutes some untidy play allowed Truro into the Okes’ 22 and when the pack transgressed Truro landed a penalty through Hosking. Then, on 31 minutes Truro won a line out in the Okes’ 22 and scored a good try through hooker Mark Carlyon after good play from number five Joe Martin.

On 37 minutes a superb break up left by Oke centre Luke Honeychurch saw him deliver a perfectly timed pass to flying winger Keiron Lee, who scored half way out on the left. The extras were missed but the half time whistle saw Truro in the lead at 8-5.

The second period saw the squad system working for the Okes with Dean Abrams on for Paul Lawrence and Gary Sizmur on for Dan Fogerty at scrum half. The Okes’ pack continued to completely dominate up front and it was no surprise to see number eight Tom McGratton get the touchdown after the Okes had shunted the Truro pack back a good 15 metres.

The Okes, this season under player/coach Gareth Evans, have really shown that they are committed to playing for each other. This has brought them results — that, and their fitness levels. They are arguably the fittest side in the league.

Tom McGratton, was replaced after 65 minutes with a suspected hamstring injury with Evans reverting to the back row and Ian Langbridge back on at prop.

Okehampton’s third and final try was scored by lock Sam Turner who capitalised on some poor Truro defence to touch down after a kick through and chase. Skipper Tom Powell added the extras to take the Okes into a 17-8 lead.

Despite a wonderful burst from Gaz Evans, which looked to be a certain try until an ankle tap tackle by the last Truro defender, the Okes could not find the fourth try that would have brought them bonus points.

Truro landed a penalty on the final whistle to make score 17-11.

Nevertheless this was an excellent win on the road. Someone once said that all good sides are able to win ugly and the Okes are certainly proving this maxim. Conditions, at this time of the year often dictate how well sides are able to play. It may not be pretty but the Okes formula is proving to be an effective one.

WEATHER conspired against Okehampton RFC over the weekend to stop their planned game for Saturday against Devonport Services.

The club groundsman Dave Stevens and his colleagues worked hard to prepare the pitches for games last weekend. The visiting team from Devonport Services RFC duly arrived and both teams set about their pre-match preparations.

Before these could even get underway the weather conspired against them. Heavy rain quickly flooded the pitch to such an extent that the referee ruled playing conditions were unsafe and the game was postponed.

This follows the cancellation of several games, home and away, during the winter months.

The Okehampton club already had four games in hand and the players have a very tough run in to the end of the season; this latest cancellation makes life very difficult.

The first XV is currently lying third in the Western Counties (West) league, with four games in hand, behind Kingsbridge in first place and Exeter University in second place. If the team can maintain its great form this season they are in with a good chance of winning the league and gaining promotion.

The RFU has ruled that the season has to end by the end of April, refusing to countenance an extension of the season into May to help clubs like Okehampton who have suffered with bad weather and unplayable pitches over the winter. This makes life difficult for the club which now has to play games two games almost every week to complete its programme.

The RFU decision also does not take into account the financial position of clubs which have suffered financially through the bad weather.

Okehampton RFC is not alone in this, many other clubs are similarly affected, and could have hoped for a sympathetic approach by the governing body.