South West One (West)

Okehampton 45

North Petherton 18

OKEHAMPTON laid down a marker with this incisive performance full of pace and fluency.

The home side’s performance was as bright as the welcome autumnal sunshine; resulting in a fast open game that delighted the expectant home support. On paper this was a tight upper mid-table clash, however the Okes blew North Petherton away with their best performance of the season.

Oke began at pace up the slope but the visitors’ sizable pack ensured the open minutes were physical and evenly poised. The home backline had already looked threatening, but when they opened the scoring after seven minutes it was the visitors’ midfield who were partially responsible.

A North Petherton move broke down in centre field and home centre Kevin Dennis, who had an imperious game in midfield magic, picked off a pass and ran in unopposed giving the hosts the perfect start. He slotted the extras, making it seven points out of what would eventually become 35 in all for the Oke number 12.

In this first quarter Pethy were combative and competitive, they twice reduced the arrears with penalty kicks after 17 and 23 minutes as the Okes gave away unnecessary territory and possession.

Oke were already putting serious width on the game and when the next score arrived after 29 minutes it set the tone for the remainder of the match, the visitors increasingly unable to cope with the relentless maroon and amber attacks.

Dennis was in the vanguard, as he demonstrated his power and pace to slice through by the posts for his, and Oke’s, second try. He slotted the extras for good measure and the home side were now in full flow.

Two minutes later the Oke backs brought the home crowd to its feet once more with another incisive score. Kevin Dennis was the architect and provider as he made another searing break, before drawing the last defender and releasing the supporting Gareth Espin; the Oke full back racing over to extend the home side’s advantage. The conversion was good at 21-6.

The fourth, and bonus point, try was soon on the horizon and yet again Dennis was heavily involved. He powered his was over in clubhouse corner but the referee awarded a home scrummage. It mattered little though as the home pack drove the visiting pack backwards over the whitewash enabling number eight Tom McGrattan to pick up another pushover score. Another Dennis conversion made it 28-6.

Just before the break Kevin Dennis garnered his hat trick, with a try out of the very top drawer. A classic centre’s outside arc saw the visitors’ defence grasping at thin air, another injection of pace and a diving flourish rounded off a  superb individual effort. The conversion hit the post but it mattered little, as at 33-6 the game was already over by the half time mark.

Oke had the slope in the second period and cutt swathes through the tiring Petherton rearguard. A flowing move, started by McGrattan from deep into his own half took play towards the visitors’ 22. When the ball was recycled, fly half Dan Foggarty astutely chipped it to the corner. The defender looked favorite to win the foot race but Oke’s other impressive centre, Rhys Palmer, showed great pace to gather and dive over for the host’s sixth try of the afternoon. Dennis landed the obligatory extra two.

Kevin Dennis was back on the score sheet himself after 66 minutes with an outside break for his fourth try of a memorable afternoon. 

The game now sealed by the Okes saw them make numerous personnel changes. The referee’s whistle increased in frequency and Petherton enjoyed the staccato period and increased possession that resulted. To their credit the visitors took their two consolation tries in fine style.

There was still time for a no arms tackle which saw player coach Gareth Evans binned for a second consecutive match, but it had no real impact as the Okes saw out the dying embers of the match in relative comfort to seal a mightily impressive all round victory.

There is no doubt that the Okes are now comfortable in these higher echelons. The curve at ORFC is definitely an upward one.