Merit

Okehampton Colts 17

Kingsbridge 3

OKEHAMPTON Colts were back in action on Saturday after yet another weather disrupted weekend last week, with Kingsbridge the visitors to Oaklands.

Playing up the slope in border line conditions, the home side were soon into their stride with second row Jake Johns and prop Pat Nash leading the charge. When the ball was released to the backs, centres Chris Swash and player of the match Giles Heard were often breaking the first tackle.

However, a lack of precision by the home side led to a frustrating amount of ball spillage with handling errors often providing the welcome pressure release for Kingsbridge. A breakdown penalty allowed the visitors the first scoring attempt but the attempt at goal fell short.

Dominant possession took Okehampton back into the visitors half and although the forwards were continuing to hit the running lines with the backs continuing to push and probe with Kieran Lee on the wing having a fine game - the Kingsbridge defence was well structured and disciplined proving very difficult to break down.

As the pressure on the visitors line continued to intensify, so Okehampton's efforts to secure the first try became increasingly frenetic. Wave after wave of attacks came but to no avail against a well organised and resilient defence with the first half ending in a frustrating 0–0 stalemate.

With both sides making changes at half time the home side, now with the slight slope behind them, began to show the continuity through the phases that to many ball spillages prevented in the first half. The Oke forwards created an opportunity wide on the left leading to scrum half Nash showed great strength in getting to the line only to be deprived for a foot in touch.

Pressure from the line out again forced errors that saw the ball turned over for Kieran Lee to force his way over with the score again being disallowed, this time for a knock on. Eventually things came together for the Okes to click!

Callum Pillivant at eight began to assert him self with some strong runs supported well by Abrams and the rest of the forwards. The backs worked the ball well behind Giles Heard who ran the decoy to Kieran Lee who went in clear. Searle narrowly missed thet conversion attempt from wide out.

With tails up the Okehampton continued in similar vain from the restart. Patt Webb made strong run and scrum half Jacob Nash exploited the blind side gap to run in unopposed for the second try.

Following a purple 15 minute period the stoic Kingsbridge defence regrouped and made like difficult for the hosts to maintain the momentum but further pressure eventually brought its just rewards after Billy Searle at 10 cut a good line to off load to Jordan Petherbridge to touch down close to the posts for the third try; Searle converted.

Kingsbridge continued to challenge the hosts at every opportunity and gained a consolation three points with the last kick of the game.

This was a solid performance from Okehampton Colts that maintains an unbeaten position in the merit table

Congratulation from all at ORFC to Okehampton Colt Dean Folland who this weekend will be playing for England South West U18.