Merit table
Okehampton Colts 29
Bideford Colts 8
FOLLOWING a lengthy weather plagued lay off , the Oke's Colts resumed Merit table activity with a home fixture at Simmonds Park against North Devon rivals Bideford. The Okes had won comfortably in the corresponding away fixture earlier in the season but the North Devon outfit have improved and strengthened since then and with a few absentees this was to be no push over.
The early exchanges saw the Okes dominate possession and territory but the enforced layoff took it's toll with a stream of unforced errors that saw several opportunities go begging. Gradually the visitors began to find their feet and with the hosts giving away a series of penalties , they were soon applying pressure to the Okes and at the second attempt went into the lead with a well taken penalty kick.
To their frustration the Okes penalty count continued to mount but eventually they began to drive Bideford onto the back foot. Ongoing pressure with attacks going through several phases saw Jamie Stevens crash over close to the posts, a try he converted himself to help give the Okes some much needed momentum.
Bideford came back strongly but with ball being turned over at the breakdown, the backs moved the ball down the line to release Callum Asuden who broke tackles and outstripped the defence to score out wide to bring the half time score to 12-3.
The early stages of the second half saw the Okes dominate scoring three well worked tries through Ausden, Pete Gillard and Stevens. Stevens added the extras on Ausden's second try with an excellent touch line conversion.
With the game going to uncontested scrums the contest lost some of it's impetus and while the Okes were now moving the ball impressively through hands they were unable to add to their tally. From a lack of concentration in the dying seconds of the game, Bideford scored a consolation try from a line out which was the final action in the game.
* Okehampton Colts play Torrington Colts on Saturday.