Western Counties West

Torquay 25

Okehampton 23

OKEHAMPTON's stretched squad travelled to in-form Torquay and produced another stirring performance following their victory at Ivybridge the previous week.

Their heart and pride nearly pulled them through to what would have been a stunning victory but two minutes into injury time it was cruelly snatched from them.

There was no sign of the drama to follow as Torquay raced in to a 13-3 lead, Carl Poynton converting an early penalty for the Okes before the 'Tics hit back with two tries and a penalty - both tries being touched down in the corner after the home winger won the race for a couple of kick aheads.

Okehampton weathered the storm and despite going down to 14 when Cox was carded off for ten minutes, they grew in to the game. First up tackles were hit hard as Torquay struggled for a period to break the gain line and this allowed the Okes to turn over ball with increasing regularity.

Poynton slotted a penalty to put the visitors within a score of their hosts and they finished the half on the ascendancy.

The home side were penned in their own 22 for a sustained period with the Okes piling on the pressure but despite several home offences at the five metre scrums, the referee did not give the penalty try and eventually the ball was knocked on to allow Torquay to clear.

The respite was brief though as the Okes raced out of the traps in the second half and within ten minutes they had restored parity. Once again it was their forward power that created and finished the score. Tom McGrattan was the scorer but he was the beneficiary of the dominant visiting pack as he controlled well at the base of another five metre scrum to dot down; Poynton adding the extras to level the scores. Okehampton continued to dominate as Torquay rarely kept 15 men on the field following a couple of harsh binnings and duly went ahead through the reliable boot of Poynton.

The game became a war of attrition in midfield as both sides grappled to gain the upper hand. Eventually the home side made the decisive break, following a period of sustained possession their full-back went over on the crash ball and although the conversion was missed they now held a narrow two point lead.

Back came Okehampton, showing tremendous character, and they regained the lead with McGrattan's eighth try of the campaign as he completed a fine blindside move to score in the corner. Poynton potted a wonderful touchline conversion to give the visitors a 23-18 lead with five minutes of normal time remaining.

Visiting hearts were broken though two minutes in to added time when a home prop barged his way over; Torquay centre Wood, kept his nerve to win the game for the home side.

It was an enthralling game between two closely matched sides as they served up a treat for the crowd and Okehampton cannot just take away a losing bonus point but a great deal of pride too from a passionate and gutsy display against a side fancied for a top two finish.