South West one

Okehampton 23

NOT for the first time this season Okehampton lost a match they should have won comfortably, conceding yet another late score.

The Okes know that they need to buck the trend of losing to tries in the dying embers of matches after leading throughout. Yet again the visitors were their own worst enemies as they allowed the opposition to snatch an unlikely victory though errors and penalty misdemeanors. The Okes will be the first to admit this was probably their worst performance so far in this league, yet they should still have come away with at least four points, rather than the one losing bonus point they ultimately accumulated.

The absence of player coach Gareth Evans, coupled with the early match ending injury to skipper Tom McGrattan definitely had an adverse effect as well as losing Brad Curtis and Luke Honeychurch to injury during the match certainly did not help the Okes cause. Despite all this, the Okes started at a gallop and opened the scoring after barely five minutes.

After pre-injury Honeychurch benefited from good quick ball, shifted from right to left, resulting in a try in the right corner. The touchline conversion sailed left, but the Okes looked full of pace an promise at this point.

After ten minutes the hosts reduced the arrears with a penalty goal following a couple of misaligned Oke lineouts.

After a quarter of an hour a swift counter attack involving McGrattan and centre Kevin Dennis was halted illegally, and the latter stroked over the three pointer to restore Oke’s five point advantage. Five minutes later Oke had the chance to stretch their lead but a wrong option cost them dearly — a penalty came the Oke’s way inside the home 22, but instead of taking the simple three points Okes opted to scrummage and the ball was urned over at the resulting breakdown.

A couple of minutes Teignmouth crossed for their opening try through flanker Parsons; the conversion was missed but the scores were now level.

Okehampton suffered when shortly after McGrattan was forced to leave the field and he was replaced by Chris Courtier and the young back rower made his presence felt throughout the remainder of the match with a forceful, committed contribution.

As the half neared it’s conclusion, Oke began to get on top. A turnover in midfield allowed them to spread play left. Young fly half Dan Foggarty neatly chipped ahead and showed great pace to win the hack on race and cross to put the visitors back in front. Kevin Dennis landed the extra two and a seven point lead was established.

The Okes made more injury enforced changes at the changeover and turned to face the low sun and the slight breeze in the second 40. The visitors were beginning to live off scraps, and were strangely reticent in defence, particularly in the second period. However, they did venture into the home half after 51 minutes and a penalty award allowed Dennis to strike a sweet goal to make it 18-8.

Eventually the home side bulldozed their way over on Oke’s right for a converted score as once more Oke errors had allowed the hosts back into the match.

Oke were finding it difficult to gain an attacking foothold in the home side’s half, possession was becoming scarce. When they did obtain ball they looked dangerous, and this was clearly demonstrated when the Okes finally got decent attacking possession after 58 minutes. It was elusive out half Foggarty who was to grab a fine brace of tries as he cruised over out wide after a slick show and go. Dennis was unable to add the extras for an eight point lead with a quarter of the match remaining,

Things started to go wrong for the visitors after 67 minutes as they compounded errors. Space was utilised on the Oke left flank and ex Tavistock full back Luffman crossed for a try that reduced the deficit to three points.

As time ticked away Oke repelled a five metre scrum and had chances to escape upfield but unnecessarily allowed Teignmouth to regain possession. A needless penalty was conceded at a breakdown in the Oke half and this allowed the hosts to set up a catch and drive attempt. A huge pile up resulted on the Oke line and as the bodies rolled away the referee awarded a try to the hosts right on full time.

Although this is no time to panic for the Okes, they need to turn these narrow defeats into victories as they look to re-establish themselves in the top half of the table.