Okehampton U14s 14

Dursley U14s 12

OKEHAMPTON U14s played Gloucestershire side Dursley at North Tawton RFC on a glorious Friday evening. 

Both sides competed in a close game. Dursley opened the scoring with an interception try which the fly half gracefully converted.  Okes hit straight back, with a solid scrum from Callum Pillavent, Josh Punchard and Zack Middleton.  Luke Liversidge was able to feed Will Cooper, to touch down; this was converted by Billy Searle.  The game turned again when the Dursley scrum half broke to score to put his side 12-7 up at half time.

The second half saw an Okes fight back and as a result of the Okes dominance in the scrum, Billy Searle received the ball from Liversidge and crossed the line with a fine dummy to level. Searle converted to put Oke ahead 14-12.

Josh Bickley had his game of the season, with his ferocious tackling and powerful running, until a lapse in concentration led to his dismissal. There were influential runs throughout from Patrick Webb and Dan Squires while Giles Head was, as ever, solid in defence.

l Okehampton turned up with high hopes of reaching the cup final at this year's  Devon U14 sevens tournament held at Cullompton RFC. They demolished Totnes in the opening game 47-0 with some outstanding tries thanks to their free flowing approach to the game. Unfortunately the second game against Crediton, saw the Okes revert to a more confrontational style. With the Crediton  forwards dominating the tackle, Okes were unable to win quick ball. At 7-7 all both sides were competed ferociously. However, Crediton scored from a charged down kick. Puttting them through 14-7 in favour, and dropping Okehampton into the Plate competition.  

Okehampton's team work and spirit was never dampened and they successfully beat Exeter Chiefs B 35-0 in the Plate quarter-final. In the semis against Barnstaple both sides worked hard.  The winning try came from  a Liversidge box kick, and  gather by Searle to put them 28-19 up, and into the final against Devonport, which the Okes won 28-7 to win the Plate. Throughout the day Cooper, Heard and Pilavent were superb in gaining yards, with help from Mortimore, Ponsford and Middleton's work rate around the park to secure the ball. Simmons defence was greatly improved with some solid try saving tackles against Exeter.  

A special mention goes to Jack Williams, who recovering from a sickness, played an outstanding tournament. Okes' player of the tournament was Josh Bickley, always looking to attack and never faltering in defence.

The boys can all be proud of what they achieved.