Western Counties West
Okehampton 37
Exeter Saracens 10
THERE may not have been much resting on this Western Counties league encounter; but that didn't stop both teams serving up a cracking match.
Saracens had Oke under pressure for much of the first quarter with their willingness to spread the ball at every opportunity. The Okes' defence was made of stern stuff and they held out with solid resolve as they slowly gained a foothold in the match. Both sides had already missed straightforward penalty chances before Kevin Dennis struck two efforts between the uprights to give Oke a 6-0 lead.
Playing up the slope, Oke were now creating chances of their own but were falling just short with some regularity. The line out was scrappy at times and the home back three were having to pull off many a fine cover tackle to maintain the host's lead.
Oke lost centre Luke Honeychurch to injury and were under pressure as the interval loomed. Then from deep in his own half, flanker Tom McGratton's great pace outstripped a winger and then fed back inside to scrum half Richie Friend who crossed for the score. Dennis converted to give them a 13-0 lead at half time.
Kicking off the second half with the slope, Oke were soon on the offensive. They were now the dominant side at ruck and maul time, pilfering possession from the visitors with increasing regularity.
The forwards drove into the heart of the Sarries defence before second row Neil Perrot went over for the second try. Dennis again converted. The fly half added another penalty soon after to extend the home advantage before the Whipton based visitors came back strongly. They camped in Okes' 22 and eventually the pressure told as fly half Chalmers snuck through a half gap by the posts to reduce the arrears.
The play continued to be fast, free flowing and frenetic. Once more Oke stretched their lead when scrum half Friend made another typical fringe-side snipe to offload to Dennis who crossed under the uprights and self converted.
The visitors attempted to move the ball from anywhere; this was to their undoing though as they threw a loose pass in their own 22 that resulted in a try for replacement back Rory Honeychurch. Dennis obliged from in front and Oke had a slightly flattering 37-5 lead entering the dying minutes.
Full credit to the visitors though as they once more went on the offensive. The Okes lost industrious flanker Paul Lawrence to the bin before Sarries centre Sam Gooch benefitted from some tired looking home defence to sprint over for an unconverted consolation score.
So in all a very entertaining match for the spectator, refereed well and played in good spirit.