North Tawton 10

Okehampton RFC Seconds 13

OKEHAMPTON fly half Andrew Brimacombe opened the scoring after North Tawton defenders collided trying to catch a high kick, and were then caught offside.

Following the restart North Tawton mounted an attack which took them to within 10 metres of Okehampton's line for a scrum. The Okes defended well but conceded a penalty which was converted by Tawton's David Fewings to level the scores.

Within the first ten minutes the ferocity of the exchanges was evidenced by injuries to two North Tawton players, one due to a clash of heads, and substitutes were brought into play earlier than planned.

Okehampton mounted a series of attacks as their pack drove North Tawton back. The defence held out well and showed good composure in not being penalised despite the pressure. Good kicking first by Simon Quick then by Rob North pushed Okehampton back but at the third attempt Okehampton broke through from a five metre scrum and Brimacombe touched down for the first try of the match. The conversion was missed, leaving the score at 8-3 to Okehampton.

In the first part of the second half North Tawton came back into the match well, pinning Okehampton back in their 22 metre area, but two missed penalty kicks to goal. Okehampton were soon back in attack as their well organised pack recycled the ball to maintain forward momentum and took them to within five metres of Tawton's line.

This time it was Tawton's turn to defend well and another long, relieving kick by fly half North was hoisted into touch. The respite was short-lived as Brimacombe returned the compliment and Okehampton were back to ten metres from the Tawton line. Finally North Tawton conceded a penalty and a place kick was chosen; Brimacombe obliged to push his team up to an 11-3 lead.

The Okes then added another three points.

Try scoring opportunities were few and far between, despite some strong running from Okehampton full-back David Wills.

Finally North Tawton gained significant ground with a long kick up the field from full back Lawrence McKone. A five metre line out was defended well by Okehampton but in the follow-up a Tawton player was yellow carded for retaliation to a high tackle. The numerical inequity was soon evened out however as an Okehampton player also received a 10 minute rest, and the match continued at 14-a-side.

North Tawton were still pressurising the Okehampton line and a tap penalty taken quickly close to the line gave centre Simon Quick the space to crash through for a try. The conversion by David Fewings brought the scores to 13-10 to Okehampton, with North Tawton hanging on to the chance of a win.

It was Okehampton who finished the stronger however, as they attempted a short tap penalty move from five metres out.