THE combination of sunshine and a firm pitch allowed Okehampton to play their running game, sealing a comprehensive win before thunder and lightning brought the match to a premature conclusion.

After a superbly observed minute’s silence in honour of colt George Ogborne, it was the visitors that showed the first signs of zip and threat as their bulky pack held early sway. A couple of ominous looking set scrums set the early tone, before the Okes finally awoke from their slumbers. Eight minutes in and the Okes were awarded a penalty right in front, Richie Friend duly obliged to put the first points on the board.

Okehampton then began to string some phases together and it soon became clear that if the pack could provide enough ball, then their backs could cause serious damage out wide. The first quarter came to and end with Richie Friend potting another simple penalty to extend the Okes’ lead as the hosts started to get on top.

It only took another five minutes for the home side to turn the superiority into more points. After one catch and drive was held up, another line-out produced clean ball and from a subsequent breakdown the ball reached lock Karl Pearce, revelling in the firm conditions, set off on a powerful angled charge that ended with him crossing for a try wide out on the Oke’s left flank. Richie Friend landed the tricky extras and it was now 13-0 to the Okes.

Clevedon soon responded as they looked to gain a foothold in a match that had threatened to run away from them. The visitors forced a close range lineout but failed to gather clean ball. They did retain possession though, and as several players became embroiled in an off the ball fracas, the Bristol based side forced their way over from close range to reduce the arrears to six points after adding the conversion.

The visitors threat did not last long though as the Okes responded direct from the restart. Eventfully, after several phases, the ball was moved right in the Clevedon twenty two and when it reached Oke full back Luke Simmons, he evaded a tackle to dive over midway out on the right for the Oke’s second five pointer. Friend’s conversion rebounded off the left upright leaving the score at 18-7. Just before the interval a string of right to left passes eventually reached Kieran Lee; he cut a swathe up the five metre channel before a deft pass inside saw twin brother Ryan scamper in under the bar to end the half in perfect fashion. Richie Friend converted and the whistle blew for half time.

The home side had the benefit of the Showfield gradient in the second period and were soon hunting the bonus point try. It was birthday boy Neil Perrott, at blindside who created the impetus with a serious rumble down the left hand side. As the Oke’s recycled, the ball was fed infield to prop Joe Mawle - the youngster cutting a fine line to crash over for his maiden first team try. Friend was on form with the boot again, and at 32-7.

Boosted by the score, the young prop did not take long to double his tally. Bursting onto another nice offload he raced in from the 22 to stretch the home lead to 32 points after another successful Friend conversion.

Into the last quarter, Clevedon found a second wind and were camped on the Okes line for some time. Resolute defensive resolve prevented a consolation score however, the Okes regrouped and soon went back on the offensive.

Fifteen minutes remained when skipper Tom McGrattan found space in midfield, and after a searing break fed the rampaging Karl Pearce on his inside who sprinted over for another fine home score to seal the match. The conversion via Friend made it 46-7 as the Okes looked for a half century. The weather and the referee had other ideas though, with nine minutes remaining, thunder and lightning causing the man in the middle to call an early end to proceedings for the players safety.

It mattered little to the final score and relegated Clevedon finished their campaign with another away defeat.