Western Counties West

Sidmouth 8

Okehampton 24

OKEHAMPTON first team’s winning run continued with this impressive bonus point victory away at fourth-placed Sidmouth.

The fixture appeared to be Oke’s toughest test for some time, it’s a credit to the side then that right from the kick off they dominated against a side that rarely loses on its home patch.

The Okes, whose stats are looking impressive, are currently second in the table with a game in hand after eight wins from nine matches. The defence was again superb this week, only conceding three tries in their last five matches; they have the lowest points against tally in the league so far this campaign.

The Okes ran out in mild sunshine on a dry surface, starting up the slight slope and against a swirling wind. The visitors had a minor edge in the early exchanges as both sides sized each other up. Small errors abounded and with 20 minutes gone it was still scoreless. Oke were guilty of conceding soft penalties in this period and home fly half Retter missed a chance from halfway on 25 minutes.

The wind was now changing direction at will and after 28 minutes visiting skipper Tom Powell had a chance to open the scoring, but his penalty attempt drifted wide of the left upright.

Oke’s scrum was now beginning to assert itself on the hosts’ front eight and this advantage was driven home as the half neared its conclusion. After 37 minutes Oke drove and wheeled a scrum on halfway, from which number eight Tom McGratton and scrum half Joey Bruce combined with some fine interplay to take the ball deep into the home 22. The Okes went left from the resultant breakdown and good hands from Tom Powell found fellow centre Matt Johns on a short support line to cross for the opening try. Powell popped over the extras, and Oke were 7-0 ahead as the half time whistle arrived.

With their back row increasingly impressive, and Liam Sampson seemingly everywhere, the maroon and ambers overpowered their hosts to score three unanswered tries. Firstly, after several accurate phases, with backs and forward equally involved, prominent back rower Tom McGratton took play close to the hosts’ line.

Player coach Gareth Evans, who had a superb second half, hit a tight line at first receiver and crashed over to stretch Oke’s lead. Powell, once more, was successful with his conversion attempt. Oke were now increasingly confident and ambitious as Sidmouth struggled to hang on. Skipper Powell missed a long range penalty, before winger Luke Honeychurch saw yellow for an infringement at ruck time. Home fly half Retter potted the resultant kick to briefly raise home hopes at 14-3.

Being down to 14 hindered Oke little though as they continued to attack. Gareth Evans was the spark again for the Okes’ third score as he gathered a kick ahead and set off on a powerful counter attack leaving defenders in his wake. The ball was recycled twice and eventually stretched wide left, where the lurking McGratton powered over in the corner to make it 19-3 after 58 mins.

Still a man down, Oke pushed on and were soon rewarded with their fourth try to earn a bonus point. An Oke put in at a scrum on the 22 was followed by an Oke surge towards the Sidmouth try line. The scrum wheeled slightly left, but number eight McGratton showed great awareness and a deft touch as he fed the ball one handed between his legs to scrum half Joey Bruce, who gleefully scampered up the short side to virtually seal the match.

Oke lost pack leader Sam Turner to the bin and the pressure eventually told as Sidmouth took a quick tap penalty to catch Oke unawares and put Haydn Down over in the corner for a consolation score.

The result was never in doubt though, and Oke saw out the short time remaining relatively untroubled as the darkness increased before the ref’s final whistle eventually sounded.

Yet another win on the road, and a satisfying all round performance to boot with Oke a healthy second place in the league.