Western Counties West

Kingsbridge 18

Okehampton 3

ON a hot early autumn afternoon the Okes, with a cobbled together side due to injuries and unavailabilities, succumbed to a big, strong Kingsbridge side who now top the league.

With such a young side it was always going to be a struggle for the Oke and so it proved. After just four minutes fly-half Ben Newman ghosted over for a try which he failed to convert. At the ensuing kick-off over eagerness saw Oke get offside at kick-off and this immediately put them under pressure again.

The Okes were then awarded a kickable penalty but the post got in the way. Play was becoming scrappy with the hosts looking to use their much bigger and well-drilled pack in the narrow channels. During this period Kingsbridge were awarded two penalties both of which were missed. Unfortunately the visitors failed to capitalise and after 31 minutes scrum-half Billy Burner scuttled over in the left-hand corner for the hosts second try, again unconverted.

Right on the half-time whistle Kingsbridge flanker Ali Hamilton scored a third try for 15-0 to Kingsbridge at half-time.

The second half began much the same way as the first half had ended with the big Kingsbridge pack on the rampage. The young Okes put in a lot of tackles and never let their heads drop.

The new Oke boys to first XV rugby – Martin Lane, Charlie White, Ryan Gross and Kyle May —acquitted themselves well and certainly did not let the side down. Kingsbridge slotted another penalty for an 18-0 lead before Pat Nash was shown yellow for holding on in midfield after becoming isolated in a tackle.

An injury to fullback Gareth Espin and replacement Ryan Gross and Liam Sampson both laid out in a collision did not help the visitors’ cause.

Oke skipper Tom Powell then landed a penalty for the Okes who finished the match on the attack but unable to cross the opposition line.