Devon Colts Merit

OKEHAMPTON COLTS 19

BARNSTAPLE COLTS 23

OKEHAMPTON’s Colts played their first game for three weeks, hosting Barnstaple for a league match.

The long gap since their loss to Kingsbridge just before Christmas showed with the home side getting off to a sluggish start, allowing Barnstaple to get a score after just five minutes’ play, the result of some poor tackling. Shortly after Okehampton conceded a penalty in front of the posts to gift the visitors another three points. This seemed to finally sting Okehampton into action, and they began to find some rhythm, but failed to get deep enough into Barnstaple’s territory to threaten.

The visitors, in contrast, found their way again to the try line to score and go ahead by 13 points. Perhaps the sound of cheers from the first team game being played on the main pitch lifted the Colts, and it was in some relief to them to see James Stevens dotting down after a strong phase of play.

Okehampton (pictured in maroon and amber) started the second half with the same intensity as they finished the first, and following some good pressure on Barnstaple’s line got their reward with a well-worked try from the back of the scrum, scored by Saul Holliday and converted by Mo Taylor.

Now just a point behind, the Colts looked to be in control, but the scoring side conceded a reciprocal try with Barnstaple punishing some weak defence to open up their lead again by six points.

Now Okehampton really needed to work and following a series of controlled attacks, won a lineout five metres out. Winning the ball, the Colts set up a driving maul and drove powerfully for the line to score a classic try, finished by Josh Burgoyne, who converted his own score.

In the lead by one point, the home side just needed to keep Barnstaple at bay for the last 15 minutes, and even bag another score to clinch the match. However, after only conceding just a couple of penalties all game, Oke began to let their discipline slip and with just a couple of minutes to go, Barnstaple went for broke, driving for the line and hoping to keep the ball and not concede a penalty of their own. The gamble paid off, and they scored with the very last play of the game to pinch the match 19-23.