Western Counties (West)

Okehampton RFC 1st XV 29

Penryn 1st XV 19

THERE were flashes of real promise for the season ahead for Okehampton’s first XV after securing a good win against Penryn.

These two sides met three times last term and each match was a tight encounter. While the scoreline this time around alludes to a close match, Okehampton should have won far more comfortably than they did.

It was Penryn who had the front foot advantage for the first ten minutes after Okehampton kicked off up the slope. The visitors’ usual efficient and direct pack held early sway. Oke were finding their feet after a mixed pre-season, but the preferred pattern of both sides was becoming evident even at this early stage.

Penryn’s pack looked to attack up the middle with powerful hooker Booth the attacking fulcrum in all areas of the pitch. Oke meanwhile looked for width on the ball, and tried to stretch the visitors wherever possible.

Despite Penryn’s early territory it was the men in maroon and amber that struck the first blow. A useful high kick by debutant outside half Tom Fogarty caused the Penryn full back to fumble under pressure from onrushing winger Ryan Lee. The speedy youngster then demonstrated considerable technique and awareness to hack ahead and outpace the cover to pounce for the first try of the campaign. Skipper Tom Powell secured the conversion.

This seemed to settle the hosts who soon created another chance when centre Luke Honeychurch put returning winger Matty Dennis away up the right flank on a swift counter, but the cover got across to snuff out the chance as the game became increasingly open. Penryn were still battering away around the fringes however and Oke had to maintain a strong defensive stance to keep them out.

Their defence held until the 22nd minute when a hole around the ruck area allowed visiting prop Kurt Oldfield to barrel his way over right of the posts. Fly half Salisbury converted, and it was all level again after the opening quarter. The scoreline was a fair reflection of the opening action.

Okehampton lost flanker Paul Lawrence to injury and he was replaced by flanker Liam Sampson making a welcome reappearance after his sabbatical. Captain Tom Powell then missed a penalty chance on 25 minutes as Oke entered their best spell of the match. The hosts dominated the next quarter, and they played some excellent flowing rugby that had Penryn stretched and struggling.

This pressure resulted in the Oke’s second score on 30 minutes as lively flanker Dean Abrams took it on himself to do it alone. Taking the ball at first receiver the back rower burst through the initial line of defence before rounding the covering Penryn scrum half in style to dive over for a fine individual try. The conversion was awry, but home tails were once more on the rise.

Oke’s lineout, where player-coach Gareth Evans’ accurate arrows combined with the aerial ability of the returning Tom Mcgratton, was much improved. It was a nice pass from the number eight that allowed full back Gareth Espin to break though after 35 minutes, taking play right up to the Penryn try line.

Penryn attacked the resultant ruck illegally but play was allowed to continue. Home scrum half Joey Bruce took full advantage as he impishly sniped up the narrow side for a clever try in clubhouse corner. As a result of the ruck infringement the Penryn six took ten minutes in the bin, and at 19-7 up Oke were looking for the bonus point try before the break.

It arrived right on cue as the interval loomed. Okehampton used the full width of the pitch after an initial surge by flanker Samson took play deep into Penryn’s twenty-two. The ball was moved swiftly back to the right and centre Honeychurch supplied the scoring pass to grateful winger Matt Dennis who had the simple task of rounding off the flowing move.

Powell landed a well struck conversion, and when the half time whistle blew Oke already had the bonus point in the locker and all looked promising for an emphatic victory.

Oke made half time changes and it initially had the desired effect as Oke continued to threaten after the restart. Their fifth try was soon on the board as Mcgratton was put away in the bottom right hand corner to round off another blindside handling move.

The match changed at this point however as a combination of poor discipline and complacency resulted in a disappointing last 30 minutes for the home side.

First it was Evans that saw yellow for an off the ball indiscretion. Oke then failed to clear their lines after a defensive scrum and from the resultant penalty sizable second rower Trevaskis barged over to make the score 29-12. Oke’s penalty count was reaching astronomical proportions as the half elapsed and even though Evans returned, his reappearance was offset by another sin binning, this time for flanker Abrams. The injury count was also on the increase as both prop George Trerise and winger Matt Dennis could play no further part.

As the match entered the last few minutes, Penryn’s numerical advantage allowed impressive hooker Dan Booth to force his way over from an attacking ruck to reduce the deficit even further. There was never any real threat of a full comeback but Oke will still be disappointed in how they performed in the last quarter and will need to improve on this facet next week when they travel to league favourites Exeter University.

There was still time for Powell to miss a penalty chance before the conclusion, but that would prove to be the final opportunity for either side as the contest came to an end.

­Okehampton will be looking to build on this solid foundation next week at Exeter and when the super-twos kick off their own league campaign at home to Exmouth.