Western Counties West

Bude 0

OKEHAMPTON showed that last week's impressive win over high flying Kingsbridge was no flash in the pan as they followed it up with an emphatic win over their North Cornwall visitors.

The tone for the match was established immediately as the Okes, playing up the slope, pounded away at the visitors' line for the first ten minutes of the match. They set up camp in the Bude 22 and forced a series of five meter scrums.

With the Oke front five in impressive scrumaging form, the Bude pack were forced to concede consecutive penalties. The Okes refused the easy three points, continued to scrumage and eventually scrum half Richie Friend found a gap on the blindside and scorched over to continue his recent scoring run. Fly half Carl Poynton added the extras and Oke had the perfect start.

The first half was all Oke as the firm condition proved to their liking. The pack were in their most powerful form for some time and the quick ball that was being generated suited Oke's style of play. This allowed the backs to show their pace and they created numerous clean breaks and try scoring opportunities. It was therefore only a matter of time before the next try came. No surprises really when prolific flyer Rob Fishleigh crossed in the clubhouse corner after another good handling move, Poynton converting with a fine strike.

The host's tails were now up and the next score was the try of the match. Play was moved right and with quick recycled ball, play was shifted beautifully through the hands to put second row Steve Alford over in the corner for an excellent team score.

21-0 down, Bude were slightly shell shocked, their pack, which had proved an impressive force in the away fixture in October, was clearly second best on this afternoon as the Okes' eight continued to supply plenty of clean, quick ball.

There was still time for one more score in the first period as that man Alford, once more enjoying the open spaces, galloped over from a maul in the 22 for a try near the uprights that allowed Poynton to oblige with the extra two.

At 26-0 up at half time, Oke were sitting comfortably. Bude upped their game in the second half and to their credit tried to move the ball wide at every opportunity. Oke allowed them no room though, and as a result they never really threatened the home line.

Oke made substitutions and continued to create chances although it was midway through the half before they broke through again. Once more it was right winger Fishleigh who was Johnny on the spot as he popped up on the end of a crisp passing movement to cross in the bottom right corner to make it 31-0.

Oke had time to add one more score in the final quarter as Richie Friend showed strength and balance to fend off would be tacklers as he ran in under the uprights for the last try. The conversion made the final score 28-0 and Oke's improved form continued.