South West premier

OKEHAMPTON 17

BRACKNELL 16

THE unbeaten home record remains intact, but only just, after a scrappy stop-start affair in which the Okes were well below par.

Bracknell visited the Showground for the first time, and boasting a solid set piece they frustrated the Okes throughout and nearly held on for what would have been a rare away win. The home side started playing up the slope but were immediately disrupted when centre Bevon Armitage and flanker Ollie Frances clashed heads in a first minute double tackle attempt. Armitage was able to continue, but was felt the effects throughout, whilst flanker Francis was unable to play any further part in proceedings. Okehampton looked to move the ball from all parts of the field throughout but suffered from handling errors which upset their rhythm.

The visitors had the upper hand at scrum time and after eight minutes they were awarded a penalty which was successfully landed for an early three point advantage. Okehampton spent the next quarter in the ascendancy, but were not able to string enough phases together to break through the visitors’ defence. In the 24th minute when the shackles were broken by the Okes, Dan Fogerty put in a cross kick over the narrow green defensive line and the ball found its way to winger Gareth Espin who, supported by his teammates, powered through and over the last tackle to open the Oke’s account. Fogerty was on place kicking duties and slotted a nice conversion to make it 7-3 to the hosts.

The Okes failed to build on the score however and were soon back in their own half. A visiting line out near halfway produced an effective driving maul and the Okes conceded a penalty which was booted to the corner. The visitors peeled off the fringes to plunder their only try of the afternoon. The left footed conversion was good and the lead had changed hands once more.

The Okes responded but errors continued and the stop-start nature that slowed the pace of the game suited the visitors. The first half was nearly at an end before the ball was popped to prop Pat Nash charging towards the uprights and the Oke loose head proved unstoppable as he crashed over under the bar to leave Fogerty with a simple conversion — and his side a 14-10 lead at the turnaround.

Into the second half and Bracknell landed another penalty to reduce the margin to a single point in the 53rd minute. Okes shuffled the pack but this did little to improve their flow and the pack came under increasing pressure, particularly at set scrum time.

Fifteen minutes remained when the Okes finally applied significant pressure to plunder a kickable penalty. The effort went awry and the home vexation increased. Bracknell sensed an upset and retaliated taking play deep into the hosts red zone. The home defence was strong but a penalty was eventually forthcoming. It was landed from right in front and somehow the Okes found themselves trailing 14-15, with less than ten minutes left on the clock.

The hosts, though, finally found enough fluidity to take play deep back into the visitors’ territory in the last few minutes. Bracknell were forced into offending and on 78 minutes Okes had a penalty to the right of the posts and crucially a chance to regain the lead. Dan Fogerty was cool and composed as he stroked over what looked like the match winning kick.

The Okes had stumbled to another win at the Showground with the home fans happy to endure another nail biting last gasp victory.

For Okehampton this was perhaps a performance to forget but a result to savour.