South West premier

NEWBURY 11

OKEHAMPTON 22

THE Okes finally won on the road with a clinical display on a sodden Saturday in Berkshire which secured a precious four points.

This was the Okes first competitive match at Monks Lane and although their hosts were sitting bottom of the table, the visitors knew they would be in for a tough afternoon. Kicking off into the driving drizzle the Okes began with purpose. Early kicking caused panic in home ranks and the visitors gained an early scrum in the hosts 22. A solid drive at the set piece saw the Blues concede a penalty, and Richie Friend belied the conditions to boot the Okes into a lead after two minutes.

Early signs continued to be promising for the visitors as they resisted early forays from the hosts, forcing knock-ons in the difficult conditions. The hosts then secured a decent period of possession as the sides began to settle. On 12 minutes they were rewarded with a penalty bang in front and they levelled the scores.

Okehampton restarted and forced a penalty which was punted into the top left corner but a lineout malfunction saw the chance disappear. It was not long though before Okes’ increasingly effective driving lineout play brought forth another home infringement as the ball was dispatched into touch near the home five-metre line. Demonstrating patience and deft handling given the conditions, Oke moved the ball right then, when play was shifted back to the left, gaps appeared in the Blues defence; yet more impressive hands released flanker Dean Abrams who barged over the whitewash for a valuable early score. Richie Friend struck a sweet conversion against the breeze from wide left and it was 10-3 to the Okes with a quarter of the match gone.

Okes now gained increasing ascendancy in most aspects, with scrum half Richard Bolt controlling play. As the match approached the half-hour mark the Okes defied the dankness, handling with remarkable dexterity and created space wide out, before accurate Okes hands put fly half Dan Fogarty into slide over for another five pointer in the left corner. The conversion was short but at 15 -3 Okes were seemingly in control.

The Okes were penalised soon after the restart allowing Newbury another pot at goal which they scored from to make it 15-6. Minutes later the Okes lost flanker Abrams to injury, and as the match approached the interval understandable inaccuracies appeared from both sides.

The Okes continued to press however and the home side infringed with increasing regularity with Friend scoring a penalty to increase the lead.

Just before half-time from a penalty awarded to the Okes, Richard Bolt had the presence of mind to take a quick tap, and avoiding the charging last defender he stepped inside and forced his way over for a crucial score beside the uprights. Richie Friend added the simple extras as the visitors went in at the interval with a precious 16-point advantage.

Conditions did not improve as the second 40 minutes commenced. Okes had the rain and wind at their backs and again started the brighter. The hosts then grew increasingly into the contest. All Okes’ replacements had now entered the fray and it was the turn of the visitors to be forced to defend for long periods. Newbury’s pressure, In the 53rd minute, brought a penalty chance but the effort was snatched wide right.

In the last quarter and the Okes’ defence was forced to demonstrate increasing equanimity as the hosts threw the kitchen sink at them. Flanker Ollie Francis was dispatched to the sin bin as the pressure ramped up. Into the last ten minutes Newbury’s number eight picked up and broke blind. With considerable support he was forced over for a score that finally gave the home support something to cheer.

However it proved to be Okehampton’s day as they secured their first away win of the season, increasingly proving that they merit a place in this league.