Western Counties West

Okehampton 22

Penryn 24

THIS was not the ideal start to 2013 as a rusty Okehampton side produced a New Year hangover of a performance against a streetwise Penryn outfit.

Pre-season, Penryn were marked down as many tip for promotion. Relegated from the league above, they started the season indifferently, and like Oke have suffered a points deduction.

The Okes season has been up and down, mainly due to an appalling run of injuries. Things got no better this week, as the backline had an even more makeshift appearance with three quarters of it missing due to injuries,

Even with all this disruption, the Okes had hoped for a win and a better showing than they produced.

Losing the toss and playing down the slope, they started ponderously, and failed throughout the first half to play educated rugby and put the ball behind the visitors in the sticky conditions. Penryn had an experienced front five, and they were content to make inches at a time through a constant pick and drive game plan from their pack. The Okes unsurprisingly were unable to create much outside due to their enforced changes, but did manage a Carl Poynton penalty after 24 minutes for a 3-0 lead.

Okehampton tried to play rugby in the wrong areas of the pitch, and as a result Penryn spent plenty of time in the home side's half.

Carl Poynton missed two penalty chances for Okehampton and as the interval approached Oke still held just a three point lead.

With the home scrummage below its usual forceful best, and a lineout that misfired dramatically all afternoon, the Okes gifted Penryn plenty of possession. Right on the break they took advantage as their inside centre made a half break, and offloaded in the tackle to the supporting fly half James Sevior. The stand-off added the extras himself, and Oke trailed at the break 7-3.

The home side began the second half in more impressive fashion, and retook the lead with their best passage of play in the game. Good interplay and support between backs and forwards, saw flanker Simon Cox cross for a fine score that was converted by Poynton to make it 10-7 after 50 minutes.

The lead was short-lived though as Okehampton loose ball in the home half was not secured leading to Penryn centre Andy Sevior crossing for a try to regain the lead for the Cornishmen. James Sevior duly converted.

Back and forth the play went, and it was Okehampton's turn next to apply pressure. A series of close scrums and tap penalties, culminated in second row Sam Turner forcing his way over from a ruck right on the line. Poynton added a fine conversion and at 17-14, the Okes had their noses in front in spite of their below par performance.

The nip and tuck action continued before Sevior added a straightforward penalty for the visitors to tie up the score at 17 apiece.

With ten minutes to go it was Penryn who struck next however, as the Okes surrendered possession in the wrong area to gift a try to winger Alex Ducker. Sevior again converted.

It was left to Okehampton's versatile Tom McGratton to show any form of attacking threat when he powered up the right flank, and through some flimsy defence for a fine individual score. Unfortunately he crossed right in the corner and the conversion to tie the scores was too big an ask of fly half Poynton.

Okehampton had lost another close game by a couple of points. After the brave performance in adversity away at Ivybridge and Torquay, this was a step backwards for the Okes.