South West one Okehampton first XV 7

Newent first XV 14

THE Okes’ recent poor run at home continues after yet another defeat by a single score.

Hopes were high after last week’s excellent away performance, however the gathered vice presidents and ex -players witnessed plenty of effort but a lack of threat from the hosts. Yet again conditions were not in Okes’ favour, but another scoreless second half put paid to any chance of a victory.

Newent played with the slope first up and had the lion’s share of early possession. Oke defended well but were starved of any ball until the 11th minute. A home scrum on halfway in midfield was the platform for the Okes’ first meaningful attack and it brought the first try of the match. Scrum half Richie Friend broke blind, slipped a tackle and raced up to the Newent 22 yard-line before drawing the last defender and feeding full back Gary Sizmur in support.

The Okes’ number 15 showed decent wheels to race over for the opening five pointer before dusting himself down and adding the conversion for good measure. Okehampton had demonstrated an early attacking threat that unfortunately failed to materialise again, as the conditions worsened and the visitors’ defence improved.

The lead only lasted six minutes as Oke conceded penalties that allowed the visitors to attack within the home 22. The ball was recycled and moved right where winger Tom Baker accepted the overlap to score in the bottom right corner. An excellent touchline conversion was also added to rub salt into the Oke wounds and the scores were back level.

The Okes made another crucial error five minutes later when a visiting box kick was dropped on the home 22. Shortly after Newent had pressured the Okes into conceding a five metre scrum. From the set piece they moved the ball into midfield where centre Gellert was the beneficiary of some slack midfield defence as he waltzed in between the posts for a score that was easily converted to put the Okes seven points in arrears.

There was little in the way of decent rugby in the remains of the first period as play became scrappy and disjointed. Oke’s lineout was not functioning, although there was little between the sides at scrum time.

When the whistle blew for the break, home supporters hoped for an improved second half and an Oke comeback down the hill. Unfortunately the Okes lost Rhys Palmer to injury and reshuffled as a result. Okehampton were lacking the spark and Newent, boasting more experience at this level, shored things up and proved more streetwise ... or perhaps mudwise?

Oke errors resulted in lost momentum and the lack of kicking effectively to utilise the conditions was proving costly. It was not until the last quarter that Oke really gained significant territory and entered the red zone. A series of set scrums and mauls failed to produce the crucial score, though, as the home players and crowd grew increasingly frustrated.

Into the last ten minutes and the Okes lost Gareth Evans to a yellow card and with that went any real hope of salvaging at least a draw. In fact the visitors had a late chance to snatch away the Okes’ losing bonus point but a Newent penalty sailed wide of the mark.

The Okes tried to rally but another penalty killed the game off and the visitors kicked to touch to inflict a third consecutive narrow home defeat. The away form has come good , but at home the Okes are finding conditions tricky. However the hosts remain in mid table in this learning curve of a season for the young Okes side. 

There is now no first team fixture next Saturday as the  cup game against Teignmouth has been moved back three weeks.