Okehampton U13s 30

South Molton U13s 0

THE score did not reflect how well the visitors played nor the strength in their defence when it really mattered. However, the score for the home team would have been much higher had they been able to break through.

The game started with Ed for Oke leading an early drive well into the South Molton half and Ollie in the midst of play making some snappy passing. Oke were communicating well with each other throughout the game. Callum was on the receiving end of some great passing and always pushed through to get as far as he could, sometimes with more than one player clinging on to him.

Oke were close to scoring but play was brought back to a scrum which they won and on to Alex for his first try.

South Molton took the kick straight to Ben, who charged into a mass of players. Alex took a long run and passed to Dan for his try.

The visitors kicked a wild ball with Josh in hot pursuit, Ed picked the ball, passed to Craddy and it was finished by Ben with a try. There was a lot of play close to the try line with Oke desperate to get through but the ball was expertly kicked out by the visitors. Oke kept persevering and eventually Alex edged through for his second try.

Following half time, South Molton were recharged. Josh and Adam took a player into touch, Alex had a long run along the touchline but was unsupported and taken into touch.

There was a period of tough play between the forwards and a lot of huffing and puffing from both teams which then became a long drive for Oke. Shea took a long kick towards the try line which South Molton kicked back to Will. Chris picked and mauled with the rest. Oke thought they had scored but South Molton held the ball up.

Towards the end of the game, South Molton really came into their own with their defence and were determined not to give up and kept the pressure on. Oke knocked on, South Molton took the scrum and Dan got through for a try. Another try for Oke from Adam who barged into the corner. Will B kept tackling well. As always, this was a good game for Oke against a great bunch of lads.

Plymstock Oaks U12s 25

Tavistock U12s 45

THIS was a great performance by the Tavistock U12s as they went to Plymstock Oaks on Sunday.

Tavistock were looking for a win after Plymstock had beaten them earlier in the season and the signs did not look good as they let in an early try from a strong and physical Plymstock side.

Tavistock were patient and, with Solly Hunter at scrum half, looked after the ball through a number of rucks, which ultimately lead to Archie Chalk scoring.

Plymstock’s tall winger immediately put them back in front and they stretched their lead further with another try to take the score to 15-5. Sam Palmer inspired the Tavistock team and put away two tries to level the score. The first was after Ted Wilkinson and Brandon Hunt pressed forward and Sam finished off; the second was after the ball was moved quickly through the hands to Will White, Sam Perkins and Ben Madar, who just could not get over the line but Sam Palmer reacted quickest to score.

Plymstock, however, got back into the lead, at 20-15, with a try from a kick forward and a great catch by their winger.

Archie Wall nearly levelled the score just before half time but was just pushed into touch.  William White inspired the team in the next section as he score two tries purely down to strength and determination while Sam Perkins darted across the pitch to take Tavistock in front to make it 20-30.

Plymstock got one more try before Tavistock scored three quick tries from William White, Laird Whitfield and Sam Perkins to secure a great win. Sam Palmer was awarded player of the match.

Tavistock U11s 10 tries

Plymstock Albion

Oaks U11s 5 tries

THIS was a really strong team performance from a Tavistock side that showed its mettle as Oaks rallied in the final quarter.

Tavistock started strongly with superb rucking from Michael, Ernie and Oscar. They won possession of the ball after an excellent tackle from Nathan, who then got his reward by running in with his first of two tries. 

Tavistock kept up the pressure on the Oaks’ attack. Ferocious rucking from William won possession of the ball and there was then some lovely running rugby, with passes going along the line from Ernie, Harry, Oscar and Gabriel, popping through to Matthew to power over the line and score.

William continued to dominate in the ruck, working well with Dominic and Ernie, pushing back the visiting players every time. His try came from a typical bursting run, leaving the Oaks’ defence standing,

There was some lovely running rugby from Harry, who scooped up a loose ball and dodged around the defence to score. Dominic was a dominant force on the attack and in defence, rucking well and making good ground. He was rewarded for his efforts with a powerful run through to score.

Tavistock maintained all the pressure with some excellent support play from Bay, who made sure he was in the right place at the right time alongside Noah. This allowed Edward to slip through the Oaks pack using a lovely step to touchdown and put himself on the scoresheet.

The visitors started to come back into the game a little and were rewarded with a couple of tries in quick succession, but Tavistock regrouped and held their ground. Some excellent teamwork and great rucking from all the players took them right up to their try line. A last great push saw a pile of players on the ground — with Ernie on the bottom having grounded the try.

Some lovely tackling from Bay, Oscar and William saw Tavistock again take possession. Oscar snatched up a loose ball and saw a scoring opportunity, running almost three quarters of the pitch to touch down.

Some really great marshalling from Alistair again saw Tavistock hold their ground.

The boys continued to look for space with Dylan and Gabriel making little bursting runs that saw the home side advance up the field. Alastair was always at the heart of it and made sure he was on the score sheet too with a great move through the Oaks defence.

Finlay, who’d tackled and rucked well throughout the game, put the last score on the board when he followed the ball through the Oaks field from kickoff at speed to touchdown and make it 10-5.

Oke U10s 9 tries

Barnstaple U10s 1 try

OKEHAMPTON comprehensively took apart a full-strength Barnstaple team in a thrilling match. The Oke team gelled together superbly, supporting each other really well in rucks and mauls and keeping the ball alive wherever possible.

Lily punched holes in the Barnstaple defence and made a huge tackle count. Stanley was the arch disruptor continually harrying the opposition and repeatedly stealing the ball. Henry weighed in with fine running bringing him three tries.

Ciaran also scored an excellent hat-trick capped with a scintillating effort taking in the full length of the pitch. Rocco burst through from the back of a scrum to score before Jacob jinked and weaved through the opposition before being hauled down agonisingly short of the line. Excellent support running from Mikey meant he was perfectly placed to collect Jacob’s pass out of the tackle and crash through the last two defenders to score a try.

Oke U10s 3 tries

Barnstaple U10s 2 tries

THIS was much a much closer affair as Oke were a little slower to close Barnstaple down.

Freddie and Zac for Oke made powerful runs through the middle with Toby and Riley sniping around the edges probing for gaps in the Barnstaple defence. Thomas made the first breakthrough, scoring after a strong run from Wilf opened up an overlap. Another great burst from Dylan Shayler set up Ewan to score the second before Dylan S went on a mazy run to score the third. Committed tackling from Oke kept Barnstaple in check to secure the win.

Oke U10s 7 tries

Barnstaple U10s 2 tries

OKEHAMPTON imposed themselves again in the third game. Lily again was in the middle of the action, making inroads into opposition territory with barrelling runs and crunching tackles.

Henry was strong in the maul and picking up a brace of tries and selflessly putting Jacob through for another try.

Todd weighed into every ruck shipping passes left and right to keep the ball moving with Rocco showing tenacious running to pick up another try. A try from Ciaran and two more tries from Stanley finished off another excellent team effort and a thoroughly entertaining match.

Oke U10s 4 tries

Barnstaple U10s 5 tries

THE final match was a really tight game with each team trading the lead. Again Oke were really strong in the ruck and retained the ball well.

Wilf opened the scoring, bursting through the middle and then outpaced the Barnstaple defence to score in the corner. Dylan Shayler weaved through from the half way line, spinning out of tackles to score the second.

Barnstaple came back but strong cover tackling from Dylan S kept them at bay. Freddie stormed through the middle before four tacklers held him up, Wilf drove the mass of bodies forward another ten yards – when the ball finally came out Ewan seized on it to score the third. Barnstaple hit back with two tries before Toby scored Oke’s fourth straight from the restart as he caught Barnstaple napping.

Oke A U9s 10 tries

Barnstaple U9s 7 tries

THE field was wet which made gameplay challenging at times. Archie D was appointed Okehampton captain and he soon scored the first try.

Oke gave a top performance with some great passing and quick tackling. Dylan made a strong run through the Barnstaple defence straight to the touch line for Oke’s second try. Myles’s fast feet and some clever dodging allowed him to slip through to produce another great try. Samuel W made some superb bursts across the field and more good teamwork allowed him to add to the score. Barnstaple proved a strong side with some solid footwork but Oke’s teamwork gained them a 6-4 lead at half time. 

Oke started the second half in a great position and this continued. Archie P scored a further 2 tries. Oke put some great pressure on the Barnstaple team, which made for some great game play. Corey made some impressive tackles and Joseph showed his confidence with a good run to allow Oke to gain a better position on the field.

Oke tries: Dylan 3,Archie D 2,Archie P 2 Myles 2 Samual W.

Oke B U9s 9 tries

Barnstaple U9s 9 tries

OKEHAMPTON B opened strongly with Samuel L using his speed and agility to dodge the opposition and score.

The team showed good awareness and kept  formation, giving Freddie the space to speed down to the line for the  second score. However, Barnstaple were consistent with their tackles and also had some strong players, keeping Oke in check.  

Ben and Charlie  made committed tackles and Felicity made a good run down the centre of  the pitch. Some strong teamwork from both sides meant that at half time  Oke were 5-4 down, with all to play for.

The team refocussed in the second half and ran at  the opposition as soon as the whistle was blown. This prevented Barnstaple finding space. Amalie made some great passes from the pick-ups, with Ben, Charlie, Freddie and Samuel L all scoring tries. Oke player Harry also played well and scored two tries (but he was playing for Barnstaple to make up their numbers).

Tries Freddie 3, Samual L 3 Ben 2 Charlie. Player of the match Amalie Brock.