Western Counties

Okehampton 26

Devonport Services 11

THE OKES finally ended their four match losing streak with a much improved performance against away day specialists Services.

Apart from a couple of spells at the beginning and end of the game, Okehampton always looked likely winners.

After early Sevices possesion, the Okes got into their stride and were soon creating chances. However, Okehampton were far too profligate at times, and blew several chances as passes went to ground or were knocked on. The Okes though were winning enough ball to attack and the scrum was again dominant at set play time and the line-out was functioning efficiently.

Fly half Carl Poynton found his range to slot over two penalties to give the home side a 6-0 lead. Then the first try arrived as a cross kick from Poynton was gathered by right winger Kevin Dennis; he looped a pass inside to the supporting Luke Honeychurch who crossed in the clubhouse corner. Playing up the hill and 11-0 ahead the Okes were playing their best rugby for several weeks. The support play was much improved and the defence was more solid.

Before half time visiting centre Anstis slotted a goal to reduce the arrears, however it was the Oke who should have stretched their lead right on half time. A series of five metre scrums saw the Okes dismantle the opposition pack. The home side crossed the whitewash three times but made a mess of grounding the ball each time, and went in only 11-3.

Early exchanges of the second half saw the visitors try to come back strongly. Winger Callum Ausden was the beneficiary of Okes' good handling as he sped off down the left flank on the overlap and showed good speed and strength to score his second first team try.

Shortly after the Okes struck again. Luke Honeychurch, at full back, gathered a kick ahed and ran back into the heart of the Services wide defence. He linked well with Kevin Dennis; the young right winger took his chance strongly as he finished in the right corner for another unconverted score.

At 21-3, with a quarter of the match remaining, the Okes made substitutions that disruputed their rhythm. Services took full advantge and they took the game to Oke. Eventually, after a prolonged spell of pressure, they crossed wide left through Ryan Morris to make it 21-8.

The Okes then lost scrum half Richie Friend to the sin bin. The home side were moving downfield as the end approached when they launched one last attack. The ball was moved from right to left, and it was left to Luke Honeychurch to cross again in the left corner for the score that saw Oke gain a valuable fourth try bonus point.