Western Counties West

Okehampton 12

Ivybridge 48

IT's back to the drawing board for Brett and his boys, after this humbling home defeat at the hands of in-form Ivybridge.

This always looked a toughie on paper, but even with the Okes' recent poor away form and absentees, no one foresaw this score line.

Oke did themselves no favours with an insipid second half performance, and their lack of ability to achieve the basic rugby competencies of pass and tackle.

Ivybridge began well as the Okes looked like a side lacking in confidence and were already being forced to defend their line despite playing with the slope first up.

The visitors came close on several occasions within the first quarter, before they eventually broke the deadlock. After 20 minutes an inside pass brought the opening, converted, score.

The Okes then compounded their problems by kicking the restart straight out of play. From the resultant set scrum, Ivybridge used the short side well and their strong running fill back cantered in under the posts.

At 14 -0 things were already looking ominous, however the second quarter was the Oke's best period, as they started to win some ball and test the visitors defence.

Fly half Luke Wonnacott missed two penalty chances before the Okes responded with a try. Left winger Rob Fishleigh scooted in up the left flank on the overlap, to briefly reduce the arrears to seven after Wonnacott potted a fine touchline conversion. The Okes were right back in the match at this point as the interval approached.

Just when they needed it least, the Okes were hit when the Ivybridge full back scored right on the interval and knock the stuffing out of the home side. At 21-7 and the slope against them, the second half would be a big ask for the hosts.

Disappointingly the Okes showed little of what they are capable of in the second half, in attack or defence. An early Ivy penalty stretched their lead, before the Okes began to wilt badly, and fall off tackles all over the park.

Two more Ivybridge tries followed in quick succession as the defence went absent out wide and around the fringes. At 38-7 it was already a matter of how many, as the visitors were now completely dominant.

Two more tries were conceded in the last quarter to make it 48-7 and the heaviest home league defeat for many years.

The Okes did manage a late consolation, as an Alex Dennis try ensured the home side finished with something to show for their few second half efforts. However, it was almost a relief as the final whistle went to prevent any more agony for the spectators.

Despite Okehampton's last two home wins, they had not come up against a side playing as well as Ivybridge, who who fully deserved their victory. The Okes will be dismayed by how easily they folded, and allowed the margin of defeat to be much greater than it could, and should, have been.

The Okes need to up their levels all over the pitch to produce the points they require for safety.