Western Counties West

Okehampton RFC 11

Truro RFC 27

PREVIOUS league fixtures between these two sides have invariably gone the way of the Cornish side. That pattern continued, but the score line was not a fair reflection of the home side's efforts.

A youthful Okes side started down the slope and more than matched their larger opponents in the first period. Despite a few problems securing clean set play ball, the home backline, not for the first time this season, caused many problems for the opposition defence.

The visitors' main form of offence was the tactical boot of their fly half Scott Martin. The Okes tried to move the ball through the hands when they had it, and it was from such a movement that they took the lead. From deep in their own half, the ball was shipped left. Centre Luke Honeychurch, continuing his recent rich vein of form, stepped off his left foot and showed great balance and pace to scythe through a gap and then around the last line of defence for a fine opening score. He failed to convert his own try and the Okes were five points up midway through the half.

The metronomic boot of Martin soon reduced the arrears for the visitors before Honeychurch replied with a three pointer of his own as the evenly matched sides entered the interval with the score at 8-3 in the home sides favour.

Only seconds into the second period the boot of Martin struck again. The Okes were continuing to attack from all areas though and with Truro happy to kick away possession, Honeychurch accepted another penalty opportunity to put the Okes five points clear once more.

The Okes were looking comfortable at this point and a home victory was still attainable.

Then the moment came that changed the whole balance of the match. A kick ahead was not controlled by the home defence. Several players failed to secure the bouncing ball and the visitor's blindside flanker hacked on, regathered and crossed for a try that was very sloppy form the home perspective. Martin converted from the touchline and Oke were undeservedly behind.

Later Truro crossed the line for an unconverted score under the posts and with only minutes remaining the game was slipping from Oke's grasp.

In the dying minutes, replacement winger Trescothick, slipped through a couple of tired looking tackles to stretch the lead and when Martin added the conversion the lead was a harsh 14 points.

Time ran out and Truro had gained another victory at the Showfield. The result was no disaster though as the Okes remain comfortably in the top half of the table.

* This Saturday the Okes are away to the Wadebridge Camels.