Western Counties West

Okehampton 15

Kingsbridge 19

THIS was a brave effort from the Okes but ultimately one that was only rewarded with a losing bonus point, as visitors Kingsbridge stole victory at the death.

On a sticky gluepot pitch, Okehampton elected to play uphill into the lowering sun in the first forty. They started well, and strung together a succession of phases against their promotion chasing opponents. Kings are a well drilled unit, bolstered by a sizable pack, but the Okes were in the ascendancy in the first quarter, and took a deserved early lead through a penalty from Carl Poynton.

The Kingsbridge side appeared surprised by the Okes' early ferocity, and they were under pressure in their own 22 when fortune turned their way. The visiting full back's clearance was half charged down; Oke conceded a line out and the South Hams side took a quick line out, which resulted in centre Ashley Treeby crossing in the bottom left corner. The conversion was missed but the Okes found themselves 5-3 behind after 20 minutes.

To the home eights credit, despite being outplayed at lineouts they were giving the larger Kings' pack a torrid time.

Good driving around the fringes, backed up by solid defence and a dominant scrum ensured the visitors did not command all of the possession.

Okehampton prospered as the interval neared, and the home side once again got themselves an attacking scrum platform.

Already taking two against the head Oke's scrum was becoming a potent attacking weapon. The home side maintained possession and attacked via a rolling maul and lock Sam Turner rolled his way over the line for a score that regained the lead for the fired up the Okes.

Fly half Jordan Petherbridge was unable to add the extras, but an 8-5 lead at the break, after playing up the slope against the league second placed side, was no mean effort.

Kingsbridge came out for the second half knowing the conditions ensured this was to be a low scoring encounter. Their only real effective weapon of attack was their well drilled catch and drive from a lineout, and that was to be the match decider. It brought the visitors' second try, and regained them the lead, after Okehampton failed to stop it rumbling over from fully 25 metres.

Prolific prop Powell was the ultimate beneficiary and with fly half Newman adding the conversion Oke found themselves four points behind.

The Okes were battling to regain the lead and made substitutions, who played their part as the team worked themselves once more into the visitors' 22.

A series of set scrums seemed sure to bring a score as the Oke eight advanced at haste. Two attempts were ruled out before Gary Sizmur was deemed not to have grounded the ball. Finally, just when it seemed the score would never come, replacement Simon Cox showed good control to score from another pushover attempt, and Poynton added the conversion.

The Okes had a narrow three point lead and had ten minutes to defend it. This they did well as Kings failed to break the host's defensive shackles.

The Okes just had to resist the urge to conceded a penalty and allow another catch and drive.

Unfortunately for them with three minutes remaining they offended at a breakdown in their own half, and allowed Kings one last attempt. They piled in with virtually their whole side and Oke could not stop the momentum gained, lock Hamilton scored the decisive try and Newman converted to leave it 19-15.

It was a narrow and undeserved defeat for the gallant Okes.