South West one

ST IVES 27

OKEHAMPTON 21

OKEHAMPTON produced a sub par display in the worst weather conditions they have encountered this campaign. The Okes came off second best, albeit ultimately only by a small margin, after failing to produce their usual standards in atrocious conditions.

The wind facing the visitors as they kicked off was of almost biblical proportions. The Okes never really came to terns with the wind and their failure to use it effectively when in their favour contributed to their defeat. Missing influential player coach Gareth Evans, plus namesake Espin and Neil Perrot, the visitors came up against a huge home pack bolstered by the likes of Fuca and Elloway with many years of higher league experience. The home pack kept the ball better than the Okes did throughout, as too many handling errors allowed the pressure to build during both halves.

The Okes only trailed 12-0 at the interval, four penalties at regular intervals from home full back Magee being the difference at the break. Almost all of these came via Oke errors or misdemeanours rather than the hosts creating any real clear chances, although their use of the wind showed that their knowledge of home conditions was an advantageous one.

The visitors did show glimpses of their attacking prowess outside during the first 40 without ever being able to run through enough phases to make one pay. Penalties and knock ons often proving costly. The conditions dictated the play and there was never going to be too much of the top of the ground open play that the Okes have demonstrated so well in recent weeks.

Still at only 12 points down at the break, and with the wind behind, many away supporters were still optimistic despite the subdued Okes’ performance thus far. Unfortunately for them the Okes failed to come out firing at the start of the second half and the home side were soon able to stretch  their lead. Home centre Nicholas crossing after more atypical Okes missed tackles. The conversion was blown short but at 17-0 the visitors were really up against it. 

Now with Karl Pearce and Pat Nash also off the pitch, the Okes finally got on the scoreboard after 50 minutes. Playing out of position on the wing, Rhys Palmer was finally given some clean ball to show his attacking prowess. Coming in off the blind side from a set scrummage  move, he showed great strength and pace to crash over under the bar to give the Okes renewed hope. Friend converted and the Okes just needed to consolidate and create  some pressure on their hosts. It never materialised though as Okehampton proved to be their own worst enemy once more. Conceding a needless penalty for holding at a lineout proved costly as the home side kicked to the corner. A catch and drive ensued and the Okes were unable to repel the hosts weighty pack and the arrears were stretched back to 15 points once more.

Entering the last quarter the Okes broke out from deep via skipper Tom McGrattan and he linked up with Palmer as the Okes finally managed to string some phases together. Shortly afterwards the ball was moved left in the gathering gloom where a flat Dan Fogarty pass found centre Richie Friend who raced past his man to score in the corner. Self converting with a beautiful touchline effort, he reduced the lead to eight points and suddenly the Okes had a sniff.

However in true groundhog style, the Okes conceded again almost immediately. Unfortunately a decent Okes clearance kick took an unlucky bounce and rolled dead with the aid of the gale force wind. A scrum back in the Okes’ 22 was the result. The Okes’ scrum had been a strong point throughout, but this time it wheeled right and it was then far too easy for the hosts to grind up the blind side before forcing their way over once more from close range.

It was now too big a margin to pull back and the Okes gave it a right go though as the hosts tired. Less than two minutes remained when more Okes’ attacks brought a close range pile up from which scrum half Joey Bruce burrowed over for the visitor’s third try. Richie Friend again converted to put Okes in bonus point territory and with perhaps one last chance. The Okes did regain the ball and after a penalty they entered home territory for the last time. A cross kick nearly proved fruitful but eventually the home side regained possession and kicked it off the pitch to seal a tight win.

Every side has days when they are not fully ‘at it’. This was certainly the case this week as the Okes missed more tackles than in the last three matches combined. However, the Okes still have the best defensive record in the league.

Okehampton’s next game is Teignmouth at home on November 17, which is also the official reopening of the front  pitch and the newly named ‘Ted Cann stand’ – 2.30pm kick off.