Devon Colts Plate Devonport Services Colts 11 Okehampton Colts 21 THE Okehampton youngsters produced a spirited performance in this semi-final to prevail in a hard fought encounter in Plymouth and now face a final against either Moorland rivals Tavistock or Honiton. Semi-finals are rarely things of beauty with so much at stake, and this was none more so than here but the Oke side stuck to their task well, especially during the first period when they rarely had the full compliment on the pitch. Okehampton started the brighter side and spent a good deal of the opening exchanges deep in the hosts 22 but lack of discipline gave the Services easy pressure relief penalties. The first real indiscretion after ten minutes saw Oli Francis take a break in the cooler for illegal use of the boot while Oke were in a promising position. This did not thwart the visitors attacking prowess though and they took a lead they were never to relinquish in the 15th minute. Liam Sansom broke from a maul to score under the posts following good work by Callum Pillivant. Jordan Petherbridge added the conversion. Four minutes later and Okehampton were briefly down to 13 as George Baker was the next to see yellow for a dangerous tackle. The resultant penalty to reduce the arrears for the home side. Oli Francis returned a minute later to bolster the visitor's ranks but Devonport got within a point following offside at a scrum and another finely struck penalty. Oke were again reduced to 13 in the 25th minute, as Callum Pillivant was the latest back rower to receive a cooling off period. However the remaining Oke team increased their intensity and physicality during this five minute period and conceded no further points and even had a shot at increasing their lead just before Baker's return but Petherbridge's penalty attempt drifted wide from the ten-metre line. Okehampton finished the half in barnstorming fashion, twice crossing the whitewash but on both occasions they were deemed to be held up and so a pulsating half came to a close with the score Devonport Colts 6 Okehampton Colts 7. The home side flew out of the traps in the second period and Oke, restored to their full compliment, did well to repel concerted pressure. It was Okehampton who scored next when good hands off the base of a scrum and good running lines enabled space to open for Kieran Lee to go over in the corner and a fine touchline conversion from JP stretched the lead to 14-6. Four minutes later and Oke extended their lead still further, a delicate chip from JP was hacked on by Giles Heard just inside his own half and he showed great pace and kicking skills to gather and score wide out. JP, who was giving a superb display from centre, capped it with another stunning conversion from the touchline. With 18 minutes remaining Services shunned a penalty in front of goal to go for touch and despite Oke preventing the initial danger materialising, weak defence on the fifth phase saw the home side score wide out on the right. The conversion was missed but Devonport were now back within two scores at 21-11. Almost immediately, Okehampton had the chance to increase their lead but a penalty from distance was pulled. The game became fractious and tetchy and reached boiling point on halfway when George Courtier was tackled without the ball and retaliated resulting in a 30-player brawl ensuing and culminating with Courtier and the home hooker being carded. The Oke side saw out the game with no further histrionics. It was a fine victory for Okehampton and although not a game for the rugby connoisseur, the rewards were reaped through determination, aggression and sheer bloody-mindedness!