South West one West

Bideford 10

Okehampton 25

AN improved second half performance was good enough to see off the Oke’s North Devon hosts in this oft fragmented match.

The visitors started their second consecutive Devon Derby in confident mood. On a dark, dim afternoon the floodlights were on from the kick off as the Okes began on the front foot. Early stages were a little on the scrappy side, but the visitors created a couple of scoring chances in the first ten minutes. Then, as Bideford started to enter Okes territory, the maroon and amber injury list added another victim’s name when scrum half Joey Bruce suffered a knee injury that forced him to leave the field. An early reshuffle was required which saw skipper Tom McGrattan moved into the centre, as the Okes had travelled with a forwards’ packed bench.

Penalty awards were already mounting against both sides, and in the 15th minute the Okes were awarded another just outside the Bideford 22. The visitors chose the kick to touch as was to become a common theme throughout the match. The Okes overthrew the resultant line out, allowing Bideford relief and a chance to counter. A kick ahead ensued and the Okes were forced to concede a line-out on the own five metre line. The home side secured possession and drove over for flanker Alex Priest to score and give the hosts a five point lead against the run of play.

Play restarted and the Oke scrum was soon applying pressure at the set piece, an area where their dominance would later reap dividends. In other play though the Okes looked a little lethargic and slightly off the pace. Frequent errors and penalties by both sides caused the play to become fragmented.

On the half hour mark the Okes’ attacking spark returned as the ball was shifted left from a midfield melee. Martin Harrison-Browne beat a couple of defenders before releasing Richie Friend - the half back fed onrushing centre Rhys Palmer with a flat short pass on his left side, and he crossed under the posts for appeared to be the Okes first score. However the ref adjudged the last pass forward and went back to a penalty advantage to the maroon and ambers. Friend made no mistake from the tee and the Okes were finally on the scoreboard.

Okehampton were immediately back on the attack and Bideford infringed once again. Richie Friend strode forward and potted another goal to give the visitors a lead they would never relinquish.

Bideford responded and Okes found themselves defending another attacking line out as the half ebbed away. The Oke defence repelled a couple of forceful efforts before eventually being awarded a turnover penalty which allowed them to put the ball into touch and end the half a point up at 6-5, albeit with 14 men when the match restarted.

The second half stated at a hectic pace. The Okes’ scrum was soon advancing again and a penalty was awarded under the uprights in the 50th minute. The Okes turned down the option of an easy three points and elected for a scrum instead. As the set piece advanced forward with a slight right wheel, Martin Harrison Browne picked up and powered his way over for the Okes’ first try. Richie Friend obliged with the extras to give Oke an eight point cushion.

Play became frantic as both sides lacked a little composure in possession.

Richie Friend saw the chance for a quick tap penalty and attacked up the left before releasing winger Ryan Lee with a well weighted pass. The youngster raced away to cross for the Oke’s second try, and one that gave the visitors a 15 point lead once Richie Friend had landed the extras.

Shortly after Biddy were restored to 15 and silly errors crept into the Okes play allowing the hosts to build up a head of steam. The Oke defence was resolute and solid, but they infringed too often for the referee’s liking and Richie Friend saw yellow as the pressure rose. The home side’s intensity increased and eventually the pressure told as home prop Matt Dennis barged his way over from close range to set up a nervy last few minutes. The conversion was again awry though and the Okes still had a ten point cushion.

Bideford threw everything at the Okes from the restart and the Okes chucked out a couple of panicky passes to needlessly induce more pressure. A high tackle from full back Gary Sizmur saw Okes down to 13 men with seven minutes left on the clock. Bideford could not get their hands on the ball and the Okes were restored to 14 men as the last minutes arrived.

Neal Perrot made another strong foray and after making more serious yardage he offloaded to second rower Brad Curtis, who powered over from a yard out. The conversion hit the upright, but it mattered little as the final whistle blew and the Okes had secured another valuable away win.

This was a deserved victory in a sometimes dour encounter that came to life in the second forty. The Okes side stood up well to the pressure  when required and stand off Dan Foggarty gave a man of the match performance in the number ten jersey.