South West one

Okehampton 37

Kingsbridge 0

SIX tries and five league points — Okes reaped the rewards after an efficient home win over fellow promotees Kingsbridge.

A year ago Kingsbridge were sitting pretty at the top of Western Counties West, while Oke looked likely to secure a play off place. Oke then went on a superb unbeaten run to secure the title while Kings battled through the play offs to join them in South West one. However the visitors have found it tough at level six, unlike the Okes they have not strengthened their squad and arrived at the Showground minus several of last year’s experience side.

Okehampton began up the hill on a bitter afternoon, on a decent playing surface for the start of December. The visitors gained early possession but failed to create an opening with their initial efforts, and once the Okes got their hands on the ball it soon became apparent that the visitors would struggle to contain their lively hosts. The match was only three minutes old when the home side carved open the Kingsbridge defence with a superb opening score. Via a midfield scrum Oke stretched Kings right with Tom McGrattan and Chris Courtier prominent. Deft offloads and recycled ball left then saw returning full back Gareth Espin offload to powerful winger Karl Pearce, who bullocked his way over in the corner.

Five minutes later and it was the home set piece’s turn to apply pressure. Gaining a five metre scrum, the home pack demonstrated its scrum dominance as it shoved the visitors back over the whitewash for a pushover try grounded by number eight Tom McGrattan. Kevin Dennis struck the upright with the conversion.

Oke continued to produce some excellent rugby in the opening quarter with injections of pace and offloads aplenty. After 14 minutes Espin put in a lovely kick ahead to force a Kingsbridge lineout in their own five yard line. The throw was wildly awry and a gleeful Neil Perrott accepted the gift and fell on the loose ball for Oke’s third try.

Oke were already seeking the bonus point score, but their plans were disrupted when player coach Gareth Evans was forced to leave the field with a re-occurrence of his calf injury. The Okes reshuffled moving flanker Simon Cox to hooker, and the number seven was to have a big impact on the reminder of the match with an all action display.

The home side continued to monopolise territory and possession and six minutes before half-time they gleaned the desired fourth try. Once more it was Pearce who was the ultimate beneficiary of impressive Oke build up play. This time a sweet miss pass from Kevin Dennis put the wingman in the clear and he ploughed over in the corner to round off a dominant first half from the Maroon and Ambers. Richie Friend slotted the extras from wide out to make it 22-0 at the break.

Despite the slope advantage, Oke found themselves on the back foot for the opening minutes of the second half.

Oke went off the boil for a while and the game became a bit flat. However, on 51 minutes a Kingsbridge second row saw yellow for a physical misdemeanor and the Okes perked up. Scum half Richie Friend stepped up and pumped over the resultant three pointer to stretch the margin to 25 points .

Okes were now back on the front foot and Kingsbridge had to defend manfully to prevent another score. To their credit the depleted visitors never let their heads drop and they continued to put in tackle after tackle.

Eventually the Okes forced the visitors deep into their own 22 and were awarded another attacking scrum. Home captain McGrattan had left the field with an injury, However, Oke soon scored when the ball was hacked out of a set piece, and Richie Friend was on the spot to dive on the ball and secure Oke’s fifth try. The Oke number nine added the conversion for good measure and a 32-0 scoreline.

The darkness now made it difficult to see what was going on as the home side continued to attack entering the last 15 minutes.

More fine play saw prop Pat Nash unleashed on the overlap and Oke camped in the bottom right corner. After several forays the ball was eventually popped from a close range ruck to the onrushing Neil Perrott, who despite a slight juggle, powered his way over to match the brace of winger Pearce to finish off an efficient and dominant afternoon’s work for the Okes.