Western Counties West

Cullompton 1st XV 20

Okehampton 1st XV 3

WITH no easy fixtures in this year’s league, an away tie against Cullompton was always going to be tough.

A fixture away against a side on a winning streak meant Okehampton would have to put in a top performance to come away with victory — while this escaped the Okes, the match was a much closer affair than the final score reflected.

Okes played against a very strong wind in the first half on a dark grey mid Devon afternoon. The hosts as expected came out with gusto, but Oke held firm and went on to control much of the opening quarter. In fact they took the lead through a Tom Powell penalty on 13 minutes, after Joey Bruce took a quick tap penalty and was obstructed by home prop Crang who saw yellow for his indiscretion.

Things were going fairly smoothly at this point as Okehampton had a nudge on at scrum time and were seeing plenty of the ball, with prop Nicky Martin in particularly lively form.

However on 22 minutes Oke made the first of a series of errors and the momentum of the game changed completely. While on the attack, Okes were awarded a penalty in the Cullompton half. The resultant kick failed to find touch, and as a result the relieving wind-assisted clearance kick took play up to Oke’s own twenty two.

From the resultant lineout, Cully conjured up a backs move that allowed full back Busch to find a gap on the inside as Oke’s covering defence went missing. He crossed by the posts to give Pearce an easy conversion, and the hosts a lead they never relinquished.

Oke began to cough up ball and give away penalties. One such offence saw another easy penalty from bang in front allow Pearce to stretch the lead to 10-3 on 28 minutes. Playing against such a strong wind, Oke were still in a decent position at this point, but another error soon allowed Cullompton to gain a vital second try before the break.

Oke overthrew a lineout aimed at the rear, Cully attacked through winger Baker, and from a close range ruck, home scrum half Frankpitt sold half a dummy and sneaked over beneath the bar. Another easy conversion for Pearce meant it was now a fourteen point lead, and Oke’s early good work was going to waste.

Oke responded right on the half time whistle and came very close to a score after a series of five yard scrums. Despite applying severe pressure on the home pack that saw the ref award three consecutive penalties, no yellow card was forthcoming and no penalty try awarded. This gave the hosts a visible boost and meant they had a decent lead to defend in the second half against the breeze.

Typically the strength of the wind diminished slightly in the second 40, but this wasn’t the main reason Oke failed to get back into contention. The visitors’ attack lacked structure, and although the Okes saw plenty of ball, their play was often harem-scarem in style and allowed the Cully defence to snuff out any likely threat.

The only score of the second 40 came in a rare Cully sortie into Oke territory, once more a penalty in front of the posts meant Pearce couldn’t miss and the seventeen point lead meant Oke had to chase the game. Okes number eight Tom McGratton was outstanding in attack and defence as he manfully tried to haul the Okes back into contention, but too often a poor pass or wrong option allowed Cully to regroup and stand firm.

Oke never truly threatened the home try line in the second 40 despite plenty of possession, and when the final whistle sounded the visitors left without even the consolation of a losing bonus point for their efforts.

l Oke play Devonport Services at home on?Saturday, kick-off is at 2.30pm.