Western Counties West

Okehampton 24

Torquay 39

THIS was a match that at half time was looking to be heading the way of the home side; the half that followed saw Torquay dominate, as Okehampton failed to capitalise on their slope and wind advantage.

It was another match that got away from the Okes, as a good start up the slope and into the wind gave early encouraging signs for the hosts. The game was barely two minutes in when Oke took the lead, a stray Torquay pass was toe ended by centre Luke Honeychurch who regathered the loose ball and cantered in under the posts, Carl Poynton converted for a 7-0 lead. Torquay soon responded and after a penalty award they chose to go for touch and their catch and drive routine was rewarded when their large second rower Jon Woodhead, who was to have a major influence on the result, barrelled over. Scrum half Alex Jeffery converted and it was all square after six minutes.

The pitch was firm despite the recent rain and the play was end to end. Next to score after a quarter of an hour were the South Devon visitors. This time missed tackles allowed left winger Cavanna to score mid-way out on the left allowing Jeffery to add another conversion.

The Okes though were giving as good as they got at this point, and with both sides missing tackles tries were coming thick and fast.

Into the second quarter Oke tied the scores up again. Luke Honeychurch slipped a neat offload in the tackle to full back Gary Sizmur who crossed allowing Poynton to convert and make it 14-14 apiece.

The Okes failed to consolidate their score as they tried to run from under their own posts only to turn the ball over.

Good hands from the visitors put right winger Graham in for their third first half try. Jeffery converted well from the touchline to restore their seven point lead.

Ten minutes remained on the first half when try number six of the match arrived. Shortly after missing the rugby equivalent of an open goal, the Okes finally scored when Simon Cox showed quick thinking to take a quick tap and go penalty to score. The conversion was missed and five minutes remained until the break. Unfortunately Oke could not see it out until the break as Jeffery potted a penalty on the whistle to put Torquay five points up at the break.

So with the wind and slope in their favour, the Okes fancied their chance of overturning the deficit. However, it never came to fruition as the visitors' pack dominated possession and the home side failed to get their hands on the ball enough to trouble the visitors' defence.

Torquay left winger Cavanna was soon extending the visitors' lead as he waltzed over five minutes in to gain a try bonus point; the conversion was added and Oke were now twelve points behind.

The Okes then had a long spell of pressure and a series of scrums in the Torquay 22. This was one area of joy for the hosts and the visitors had no answer. They lost two players to the sin bin as they repeatedly infringed in a vain effort to prevent a score. Eventually Simon Cox grounded the inevitable push over try. Replacement fly half Jordan Petherbridge missed the conversion but Oke were now back within a score. It was as close as they came as Torquay monopolised possession despite their numerical advantage.

When restored to a full complement Torquay extended their lead with another catch and drive try from Woodhead and wrapped up the win with another simple Jeffery penalty. So all Oke's efforts only gleaned one bonus point for four tries.