Western Counties West

Penryn 21

Okehampton 17

IN a typical end of season encounter, the Okes suffered a cruel defeat at the hands of the Cornish side, who took the lead for the first time in the match with less than 15 minutes to go.

The game started well for the visitors, as their pack gained an early ascendancy at scrum-time while the home line out was regularly mis-firing.

An early Tom Powell penalty gave the Devonians a 3-0 lead up the slope which became 10-0 after number eight Neil Perrot dotted down following a 5 metre pushover, Powell adding the extras.

At this point both sets of backs looked occasionally dangerous with ball in hand although sound defence prevented further scoring. Penryn gradually upped the ante and shortly before half time were rewarded for some concerted pressure as second row Adam Hughes drove over near the posts from close range. The extras were duly potted and half time arrived with the score at 10-7.

The Okes' hopes were high at this stage with the benefit of wind and slope to come and when livewire scrum half Joey Bruce finished off a move he started, those hopes seemed well-founded.

The Borough, however, had other ideas and a searing outside break from winger Josh Chambers, leaving defenders in his wake, saw the score brought back to 17-14 in the visitors' favour.

The Okes will feel slightly aggrieved that a couple of apparent scores were disallowed, based on decisions which were marginal at best. Things then became even worse as a stray pass was intercepted on halfway by Andrew Seviour who raced in by the posts to give the home side the lead for the first time in the game at 21-17.

There was still time for the Okes to apply plenty of pressure to the home line but despite a succession of five metre scrums and repeat penalties, the winning score could not be mustered.

It was a disappointing outcome for the visitors but a losing bonus point was at least some consolation for the long trip to a venue where victories are things that do not come along too often.