Western Counties West

Okehampton 28

Honiton 3

THE last five minutes brought two tries and a bonus point win, but the Okes will not be happy with their overall performance against the league's basement side.

Honiton arrived as underdogs, not having won an away match all season. They left disappointed by the margin of their defeat, but not with their levels of effort and commitment.

The Lacemen started brightly down the slope on a typical dark, dank November afternoon; and were rewarded with an early penalty chance which was successfully converted for a deserved 3-0 lead.

The Okes made a typically slow start, but slowly their forwards began to take control. Several penalty chances were wasted, as the home side took wrong options by refusing points, or tapping and going in the wrong parts of the pitch.

The sticky conditions underfoot made it difficult for the home backs to make a clean break, but they often failed to handle the ball effectively which compounded their problems. The home scrum though was beginning to turn the screw, and this brought the opening try of the half for the hosts. Several five yard scrums piled on the pressure, and eventually number eight Tom Mcgratton grounded the inevitable pushover score. Winger Craig Dennis slotted a fine touchline conversion.

With several players making their return from injury, there was an inevitable element of rustiness in the home side's play. They failed to add to their tally in the first half, and in fact it was Honiton that came closest to the next score, as they lost possession of the ball when they looked to have crossed after a period of pressure in the bottom left corner.

The interval arrived with Oke happy to be leading by four points. Hoping for an improved second half showing the stark reality for the home side was an error ridden forty minutes, having a plethora of possession but failing to use it. Honiton were battling gamely, but they lacked the cutting edge to cause problems with the ball that they did muster.

Okehampton did manage to hem the Lacemen into their own half for virtually the whole half, and they eventually plundered their second try after 60 minutes. Neil Perrott forced his way over the whitewash, after a rumbustious run close to the breakdown. Carl Poynton, making a welcome reappearance off the bench in the second period, added the conversion.

The match then became bogged down in the middle third for long periods. Okehampton bucked up with five minutes remaining and for the first time in the match they strung a set of decent passes along their backline, and created an overlap for winger Craig Dennis, who outstripped the defence, and ran around behind he posts for the third try. Poynton drop goaled the conversion.

The kick off was taken cleanly and the Okes took play deep into the Honiton 22. The ball was recycled through several phases, and ended with prop Nicky Martin crashing over on the final whistle. Poynton added the extras.

l This Saturday the Okes are away to Ivybridge.