Western Counties West

Penryn 5pts Okehampton 28pts

ONE game now stand between the Okes and a return to level six rugby after an 18 year absence.

This was always going to be a tough test for the visitors. Penryn had to win to have any chance of staving off relegation and with their county back row contingent all available. The sun shone down on the wide expanses of the Penryn pitch making it a glorious afternoon for open rugby.

The Okes began with the slope, and had an excellent start. Penryn gathered the Oke kick off, but as their number ten went to clear for touch the alert Neil Perrot charged down the kick. The Oke second rower then demonstrated good footballing skills to dribble the loose ball ahead and subsequently drop on it to open the scoring after less than one minute. Captain Tom Powell landed the conversion and Oke had a valuable early seven point advantage.

Any thought that Penryn would capitulate after this disastrous start were soon put to bed, as they went on to dominate possession and territory for much of the next 30 minutes of play. Their useful back row, and decent ball retention, kept Oke on the defensive. However, as has been the case for virtually the entire season, the Oke defence was up to the job, standing strong against all that was thrown at it.

Home full back Horton did miss a penalty after 11 minutes, and as the Okes failed to relive pressure with the boot, it seemed inevitable that Penryn would get the next score.

The Okes continued to soak up the pressure though, and when they finally got a scoring chance, they took it. After 30 minutes were now on the clock when Oke entered the host’s 22 for only the second occasion. A swift counter attack from deep saw fly half Dan Fogarty kick ahead, and as the ball rolled into the goal area Oke winger Luke Honeychurch gave chase. The Oke wide man appeared to win the race to ground the ball before it went dead, however the referee was unconvinced and awarded the Okes a five metre scrum as a consolation. The resultant set piece ended with a penalty to the Okes, but as the ball emerged they played the advantage and out half Fogarty tried a cross kick. The Penryn right winger failed to gather the ball as it dropped and Rory Honeychurch took full advantage and dived on the ball for a try. Powell added the extras.

The visitors, despite being on the back foot for long periods, were now two scores clear.

However, five minutes later, Penryn were back in the contest. An Oke kick to touch was not well chased and Penryn full back Horton set off from a quickly taken lineout. The hosts made an incisive break as a result, and fed home winger Mitchell to touch down out wide. The conversion, though, was sent wide.

Half time soon arrived as the fast paced forty minutes came to its conclusion with the visitors having a nine point lead.

The first 15 minutes of the second period looked more promising for the Okes as they gleaned more possession, testing the home defence around the fringes and in midfield.

Two driving mauls failed to make an impression on the Penryn rearguard and a home five metre scrum was awarded. Player coach Gareth Evans moved up to hooker from the back row, and the decision was to prove a pivotal moment. The Okes scrum blitzed the home eight with an almighty shove to take one against the head and as they marched the home pack back over its own try line, replacement flanker Paul Lawrence pounced to score the vital third try to put them 19-5 up.

The final quarter was dominated by the Okes as their superior fitness told. Oke began to spread the ball effectively and cut holes all over the pitch as the host’s defence wilted. After 64 minutes lock Sam Turner hit one of several great lines near halfway and powered toward the uprights. He was hauled down just short, but Oke recycled and front rower George Trerise was lurking for a rare, but bonus point securing, fourth try for the visitors.

There was now no way back for the Borough and the last ten minutes saw Oke turn on the style to score two more lovely tries. The first saw Luke Honeychurch come infield to cut a superb attacking line straight through the defence to cross for a well-deserved score, Powell converting to make it 31-5. Then centre Rhys Palmer, dangerous in attack all match, made the incisive break before feeding Luke Honeychurch and the winger raced in for his brace to seal the emphatic victory. Skipper Powell converted once more. It wasn’t long before the final whistle arrived and the Okes could rejoice as another huge step towards promotion was achieved.

This was great away win by Okehampton, and one that took some earning.