South West one

Cullompton 10

Okehampton 42

STAFFORD Park has been a bogey venue for The Okes in recent seasons but they delivered an efficient, effective performance to secure a valuable away win.

On a murky, drizzley Mid Devon afternoon, the Okes arrived minus Evans and Pearce up front, expecting a tough forward based contest considering the opposition and weather conditions. 

Kicking off towards the clubhouse end, Oke started brightly and soon imposed their patterns on a Cullompton side battling for points in their quest to avoid the drop. Early signs were promising for the boys in maroon and amber and they soon opened their account after nine minutes. Several phases of close range attacks saw Okes fail to batter their way over close in. The ball was then moved right to left along the backline to overstretch the home defence, allowing Kieran Lee to cross in Cullompton’s clubhouse corner. The left winger also slotted the extras via a low trajectory effort which went in via a post.

Conditions were not perfect, but the pitch was in a decent condition considering the recent weather. The Okes found the going firm enough to play an expansive game when required. Fourteen minutes were on the clock when the visitors increased dominance brought forth a second five pointer. Once more, several short range sorties were repelled before the sizeable frame of Rob Dugard ploughed over for a trademark score. Kieran Lee converted and the Okes were now 14 points clear. Cullompton were a handful at this time in the set scrums and secured decent amounts of possession without ever really troubling the Okes’ defence.

Entering the second quarter the Okes were soon on the attack once more, with the engine room of Sam Turner and Neil Perrott making their presence felt, the visitors were awarded a penalty bang in front of the posts. Up stepped Kieran Lee to extend the Okes advantage to 17 points. Then ten minutes later, a virtually identical scenario allowed the Okes’ winger to make it a 20pt lead entering the last minutes of the half.

Two minutes of the first 40 remained when the home side lost their fly half to the bin as a result of a deliberate knock on, thwarting an Okes handling move. Grabbing the opportunity the Okes struck on the cusp of the interval for their third try. More close in ruck action created space up the short side and Okes scrum half Joey Bruce spied the space, before feeding returning skipper Tom McGrattan who slid over in the right corner to round off a good half’s work for the visitors. The kick was off target but at  25-0 up, the Okes were in control when the half time whistle sounded.

It was the Okes who initially held sway as the second half commenced. Still a man up, the Okes were soon back on the offensive. Buster Francis carried hard and made a telling contribution after a long absence from the first XV. Tom McGrattan was the catalyst for the Okes next, and bonus point try though, as he made a decisive incision in midfield before finding Neil Perrott on his shoulder. A rampaging carry eventually ending with an attacking ruck, from which the ball was swung left via McGrattan, allowing flanker Dean Abrams to canter over and behind the posts for a lovely score to start the half. Kieran Lee converting to extend the Okes lead to 32 points.

What followed was  the Oke’s worst spell of the game and they began to concede numerous penalties allowing the hosts to build momentum over the next 20 minute period. A succession of forward drives, initiated by attacking lineouts, eventually saw the home side force their way over on the fringes to put five points on the board. Then after 61 minutes, they stuck in a similar vein to briefly encourage the home support that a comeback was on the cards. Both conversions were, missed, and an off the ball scuffle during the scoring of the second try saw a Cullompton second row and Okes’ player coach Bevon Armitage both sent to the bin for the obligatory ten minute breather.

Cullompton did come once more entering the last ten minutes but as Okes resisted their last chance was gone and it was the visitors who regained their composure to score twice more to seal a comprehensive five point victory. Firstly a sweet counter attack, Ryan Lee making a searing break, before the ball was recycled and fed blind, where full back Rob Fishleigh glided over out wide for the Oke’s fifth try. No conversion, but the Okes were still seeking another score in the little time remaining. Right on the full time whistle the Okes were awarded a five metre attacking scrum. The home pack were unable to match their earlier efforts though, and were shunted backwards by the Okes eight, allowing Tom McGrattan to ground the ball for his second, and Okes seventh try of a rewarding afternoon on the road. The final whistle blew after the unsuccessful conversion and the Okes had another valuable five points in the bag.

This was a solid all round performance from the Okes, demonstrating the strength in depth that the current squad can confidently rely on. The five points keeping the Okes in second place.