South West premier

LAUNCESTON 22

OKEHAMPTON 17

THE Okes lack of success on the road continued as they fell to a narrow defeat at local rivals Launceston.

On a sunny afternoon in Cornwall the Okes took to the field minus several regulars including their influential centre partnership.

The home side came out firing down the slope and their set scrum caused the Okes’ front eight early problems. The visitors’ misfiring line out throughout the first period also contributed to lack of possession and subsequent attacking threat and there was little fluidity in the opening 15 minutes from either side.

Okes were mainly entrenched in their own half and it came as no real surprise when the hosts opened the scoring in the 16th minute. Their scrum was again the architect, allowing number eight Rowley to bundle over on the side of a wheeled effort. The conversion was missed.

The Okehampton defence, so physical and impressive last week at home, was hesitant and uncharacteristically flimsy throughout the first half. When Okes did get into attacking positions, the hosts were allowed to escape far too easily up the short side.

Approaching the half hour mark Okes conceded another penalty which was put into the bottom left corner. The ball was moved right but home fly half Edwards decided to go blind against the grain, catching the Okes’ defence napping, and he skipped through some half -hearted tackles to cross to extend the home side’s lead to 12 points after winger Pearce’s successful conversion.Things then got even worse for the visitors at 35 minutes. An Okes’ scrum on their own ten-yard line saw the ball squirt out of the side. Home blindside flanker Lightfoot picked up the loose ball and the Okes’ defence was nowhere to be seen as he touched down for 19-0; with the conversion added the home side lead by 21-0 and the Okes were staring down the barrel.

Then, just before the interval, the Okes finally roused themselves sufficiently to reduce the arrears. Richie Friend at centre kicked a penalty to the corner and via the resultant driving lineout, flanker Dean Abrams grounded the ball to get the Okes back in the game. Friend converted and the sides turned around with Oke 12 points in arrears.

The Okes regrouped and changed personnel, emerging for the second 40 with a rejigged backline. The visitors immediately looked more purposeful and threatening. However, a combination of missed chances and stoic home defence frustrated them.

The Okes thought they had scored from another early catch and drive rumble as prop Rob Dugard appeared to score but the ref thought otherwise.

However, with Dan Fogarty now restored to fly half and pulling the strings and Buster Francis outstanding in his flanker/hooker role, the Okes were in the ascendancy. They finally broke the dam on 60 minutes when the ball was spread wide after several phases and the ball found its way to front rower Tom White on the left wing and he dived over for his first try since returning to his hometown club to make it 19-12.

A penalty award to Launceston on a rare excursion into Okes’ territory allowed Pearce to extend the hosts lead to 22-12 on 66 minutes. The Okes continued to press though and with five minutes remaining another attacking foray stretched the home defence once more. Tom White again found himself wide left and with a neat step inside crossed for his brace and Okes’ third try to reignite visiting hopes. The conversion was wide but it was now just a seven point ball game.

As the dying seconds arrived Okes were again in the home 22 and pressing after attacking from deep. However, they were pinged for holding on in a promising position and the hosts booted the ball off to end the contest.

This was another away opportunity that slipped away for the Okes who need to replicate their home form on the road to climb the congested league table.