Paignton seconds 13
Okehampton seconds 14
OKEHAMPON were looking last week to cement their place in the thrilling race for the championship towards the end of this superb season.
On a difficult and boggy surface, the game inevitably started in a scrappy manner, but it was obvious the home team were in the ascendancy, with their fly half controlling the game from behind a mobile pack.
The Okes just could not seem to get going and were poor on every area of the park, not even normally inspirational captain Simon Griffiths could rouse his troops into action. Paignton made hay while the sun didn't shine... and went into the half time interval 13-0 up thanks to two tries and a penalty.
Okes' coaches Sion Taylor and Adam Curtis had some choice words for the team at half time and decided to introduce number eight Steve Alford into the fray. This had a positive effect in the scrummage, with control at the back and in the line out.
This led to better ball for scrum half Joey Bruce and the Okes gained good field position via the cultured boot of Luke Wonnacott. Half way through the second half some concerted pressure from Okes led to captain Griffiths going over for a good pack orientated try, Wonnacott duly converted to make it 13-7 to Paignton.
Some marauding runs from second row Julian Courtier inspired the Okes' pack further and after some excellent ball handling from Neil Perrott and Simon Bennett, Joey Bruce scampered in under the posts to score. Wonnacott slotted the conversion to take Okes into the lead at 14-13.
In the last ten minutes the Okes defence had to absorb some serious pressure, which led to a penalty on the touch line 25 metres out. The Paignton kicker missed and gave an excellent and deserved away win to the Okes' seconds.