South West One (West)

Okehampton 29

Cullompton RFC 14

ON an afternoon different to the ideal conditions they faced the week before, the Okes faced a determined Cullompton side buoyed by their victory over North Petherton in their opening game.

Despite persistent showers the pitch stood up well to its first senior game.

After a scrappy start by both sides, the referee set out to prove that he was keen to police the offside line and the Okes were pinged a couple of times in early play. After eight minutes, with Cully in possession the first meaningful tackle of the afternoon was made by the smallest player in either pack, hooker Jake Shinn who moved his opponent back at an alarming rate!

Cully were then awarded a kickable penalty which was badly missed. The Okes were beginning to find their passing game and after making sharp inroads into the Cully half, they were awarded a penalty on nine minutes 35 metres out.

It was taken quickly by scrum-half Joey Bruce. The ball was quickly recycled and following a great pass by Rhys Palmer, Number 13 Gareth Espin went over for the Okes’ first try in the bottom left-hand corner.

With the successful conversion by Richie Friend the Okes were up and running. On 18 minutes with the Okes beginning to ratchet up the pressure Cully were penalised in front of the post and Friend added the points.

Cullompton, with a ‘lumpy’ attritional pack were playing their part in an entertaining and physical match. But as last week, great defence by the Okes and some excellent kicking from Joey Bruce, Gareth Espin and Rhys Palmer ensured that Cully played most of the next 20 minutes in their own 22.

A stolen line-out set up Okes for their next try on 21 minutes, which was rumbled towards the posts before impressive lock Neil Perrott barrelled over for the try, again converted by Richie Friend.

Only frenetic defending by Cully stopped the Okes from extending their lead but the pressure took its toll on the visitors. Following a short-lineout and some sterling work by the forwards with stand-out player prop Pat Nash in the vanguard, Neil Perrott again scored on 37 minutes leaving Richie Friend the easiest of conversions.

This made the half time score Okes 24 - Cullompton 0.

The second period began much as the first had ended, with the Okes looking sharp outside. Full-back Kieron Lee seemed to be finding his feet and showed some great takes under the high ball and set up some promising attacking moves for his back line.

Okes were penalised for crossing in midfield and the clearing penalty took Cully well into the Okes 22, where their strong pack looked to set up camp. With the referee still policing the offside line, Cully were penalised to bring some relief to the Okes.

However, the visitors forward pressure began to tell and when player/coach Martin Harrison-Browne was yellow-carded on 60 minutes for not rolling-away Cully seized their chance. In a just a few minutes they had secured two push-over tries and their body-language suggested they expected an upset. Again, as last week the Okes showed just why they are so difficult to get the better of. Tackles were nailed and playing up the slope they took play into the Cully 22. The forwards were really putting in a shift to contain their larger opposition none more so than man-of-the-match Pat Nash. The Okes were now searching for the elusive fourth, bonus point try.

With the last move of the match the ball was quickly fed down the line to winger Ryan Lee who, with great determination went over in the corner despite massive attention from three Cully players.

So, a second five-point haul for the Okes with a 29-14 final score but the upcoming matches don’t get any easier.

Next week is an away game against Drybrook in Gloucestershire, which is never an easy venue to travel to, followed by a home game against the young men from Exeter University.

The early season rust is still to be seen in some of the moves but as with last week’s performance, the boys are really working for each other and would appear to be a tight knit group.

On a miserable Saturday afternoon with frequent rain a good crowd enjoyed this game but the club would like to see more locals at the match to support their lads.

Words and pictures by Dave Potter