Devon Cup Merit

Kingsbridge Colts 12

Okehampton Colts 20

OKEHAMPTON started the game playing against the elements at a blustery High House and after ten minutes went behind to the opening score.

The initial exchanges were even, mainly contested in the middle third but when Okehampton were penalised for a deliberate knock on the hosts kicked to touch.

The resultant lineout on halfway saw a massive driving maul take Kingsbridge to the 22 yard line and when the ball was spun wide the Okes' defence ran out and the home fullback scored the try in the corner which went unconverted.

The game continued apace as thrust and counter-thrust were stifled by dominant defences.

Oke Colts had a decent opportunity after half an hour but the chance went begging through a knock on. From the resulting scrum Kingsbridge cleared their lines to halfway but back came Oke with interest as good clean lineout ball was won and the backs utilised it to good effect, releasing Brandon Horn to score the equalising try.

Half-time arrived with the scores level at five apiece and all still to play for in this scrappy, fractious affair in which too many individual errors were thwarting any sustained attacking flair from Oke.

Oke came out for the second half firing on all cylinders though and took a lead they would never relinquish within a minute of the restart. The ball squirted out from a home ruck on halfway and skipper Ryan Gross, ever alert, pounced to scoop up the loose ball and, after superb interplay between him and Brandon Horn involving some great hands and offloads, allowed Pat Ewen the simple task of crossing the line for their second unconverted score.

Back came Kingsbridge who threw everything in to attack and camped inside the visitors' 22 for the next ten minutes. Sterling defence kept them out though and pressure was released through good exit strategies.

The game opened up and a period of end to end rugby followed as attack and counter-attack thrilled the crowd. As Oke gained some territory the pressure became all about them as both Gross and Brad Curtis went close with the latter denied a try as he was deemed to have lost control of the ball in grounding. Okehampton Colts produced a massive drive from the resultant five-metre scrum to turn the ball over and from their put in at the next, they wheeled the scrum enough to allow No 8 Gross to pick and drive at the home fly-half and he crashed over for try number three.

Okehampton sensed the try bonus point now and threw everything into attack as they dominated proceedings. They cranked up the pressure on a creaking home defence. Initial attacks were repelled but with four minutes remaining when all seemed to be lost, Dan Fogerty spotted a gap to accelerate through and score the fourth in the corner.

With the last play the home side had the final word though when the huge home number eight bulldozed his way over from short range with the follow up conversion being the final act of an enthralling contest.