South West premier

OKEHAMPTON 23

WESTON SUPER MARE 20

THE OKES left it late once more, as they struck in the dying minutes to maintain their unbeaten home record with this tense victory over a high flying Weston outfit.

Okehampton looked sharp from the off, whilst the pitch was firm and fast despite the recent downpours.

Immediately on the attack, the Okes were awarded an early penalty which was landed by Richie Friend for a three point lead after just two minutes. As the sides tested each other out, the first quarter flew by. Weston missed a penalty chance to level the score before the Okes scored the first try of the afternoon. Richard Bolt’s boot stretched the visitors’ defence wide on the right flank. Ryan Lee was involved in the build up ,and after a scrappy fly hack and regather second rower Sam Turner was the beneficiary as he gathered a popped up pass to slide over midway out towards clubhouse corner. The conversion attempt failed, but the hosts had reaped the rewards their early attacking intent merited.

The visitors are not second in the table for no reason however. Their streetwise pack soon gained a serious foothold in Oke territory as they responded in earnest. In the 26th minute, after a series of forward drives, they forced their way over via prolific number eight Brad Talbot to reduce the arrears. Full back Chapman then converted to make it a one point ball game.

Tit for tat it continued as the pace refused to relent before Oke forced another penalty in the 33rd minute. Richie Friend was accurate in his dispatch via the boot, and the Okes were now 11-7 ahead in this tight contest.

Another set piece retreat allowed the visitors a chance to narrow the gap with five minutes of the half remaining. Chapman made no mistake from right in front, and once more there was a mere point in it. Okes now needed to maintain their narrow advantage and take it into the break. Bang on the break Weston Super Mare seized their chance – a scrum was wheeled right and their number eight Talbot wriggled free and generated enough momentum for his second score, one that left the Okes harshly six points down at the break.

Both players and supporters knew this would be a tense second forty as the Okes sought to maintain their unbeaten home record.

Despite the slope advantage the Okes had to muster enough ball against the strong visiting set piece to set their dangerous runners free.

A Bolt break from a lineout gave Okes impetus with winger Ryan Lee partially free on the left; a neat step back inside allowed him to force his way over for the Okes’ second five pointer and to bring the hosts back to within a point of their experienced opponents.

As the match entered the last couple of minutes it seemed Okes’ unbeaten home run was at an end, unless they could find a spark, a moment of magic to snatch a late win. Finally, as the visitors’ defence was stretched once more, Brandon Horn was set free down the left flank but the cover defence corner-flagged him into touch just short. A visitor’s line out on the own five-yard line was the result. Oke captain Tom McGrattan rose to steal the lineout and the home crowd roared as his teammates piled in en masse to create an irresistible driving maul. As it powered over the line the ref had seen enough and awarded a penalty try, to the delight of the now ebullient home crowd as the Okes took the lead and held out to seal the victory.