Western Counties West
Devonport Services 3
Okehampton 13
AFTER a disappointing run of four consecutive defeats, it was imperative that Oke got back to winning ways with victory against a Devonport side struggling near the foot of the table.
The vital win was duly achieved, although the game itself never reached any great heights, mainly due to a combination of bad weather and uncontested scrums.
In initially dry conditions, the Okes played with the breeze but it was the hosts who started the brighter.
They battered away during the opening exchanges but despite having the early lion's share of possession and territory, only came away with a Matt Anstis penalty to show for their efforts. The Okes were perhaps guilty of trying to play their rugby in the wrong areas of the pitch, although when they did resort to the boot, fly half Carl Poynton made significant yardage on each occasion.
Trailing three nil, the Okes were again defending in their own 22. From turnover ball, experienced flanker Harry Bushin, who had a fine game, fed full back Gareth Espin within his own 22. The elusive full back picked a weaving line through the initially fragmented home defence; when in open field he turned on the gas to outrun the scrambling cover to cross under the posts for a cracking score. At this point it was against the run of play, and with Poynton adding the simple extras it was 7-5 to the visitors.
This seemed to settle the away side and they took a stranglehold on the match during the next quarter. Fly half Poynton punished two of many numerous Devonport indiscretions at the breakdown with consecutive penalty goals to extend the Okes' lead to ten points.
Oke won a line out outside the home 22 and produced a fine driving maul that eventually reached the home try line; despite crossing the line a try was not awarded. However, from the resulting five meter scrum the Okes' eight began to apply serious pressure. Time and again the home side's scrummage folded under the strain. The referee awarded numerous penalties but no penalty try was forthcoming.
The home side held out and Okehampton turned around 13-3 ahead. The uncontested scrums, along with the incoming bad weather, ruined the game as a spectacle in the second half.
The Okes were unable to capitalise on their increasing forward dominance and the conditions did not sit well with their efforts to spread the ball wide. Both sides made multiple substitutions and the match became a fractured, scrappy affair. Although the home side generated plenty of pressure as the Okes failed to clear the ball downfield, they never actually created many clear cut openings.
The Okes' defensive work was impressive though, but the visitors will be slightly disappointed that they didn't manage to register any more points in the second half which would have put the game to rest earlier.
Overall though, the most important objective was achieved; that of two valuable points, away from home against a side lower in the table.