Western Counties West

Okehampton 32

Torquay Athletic 13

OKEHAMPTON maintained their inexorable quest for the league title with this fine win against a side that had put 40 points on them away in December.

Having already qualified for the league play-offs later this month the Okes went into this fixture knowing there was an outside chance of putting pressure on league leaders Kingsbridge if results elsewhere went their way.

Playing up the slope Oke started strongly and put pressure on Torquay from the outset. They were awarded a penalty in the second minute which skipper Tom Powell dispatched with ease. Most of the play in these early stages was in the Torquay half and a promising move in the 10th minute resulted in a what looked like a serious injury to Tics’ full back Mawgan Penrice. Fortunately, referee Richard Stygall was a qualified paramedic and the player was kept fully immobile on the turf. The Devon Air Ambulance was summoned and arrived within 30 minutes. After treatment on the pitch the player was taken to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and the great news is that he was discharged later in the day.

After 55 minutes the game resumed and the Okes again camped themselves in the Torquay’s half. After a really searching kick from full back Joey Bruce the Okes pounced and with some good handling saw skipper Tom Powell cross for an excellent try. His conversion just sailed wide.

Next fly half Dan Fogerty put in a great kick to pin the Tics behind their 22 metre line. Player/coach Gaz Evans made a searing break before off loading to prop Ian Langbridge who knocked-on with the line at his mercy only 30 metres away!

On one of their rare forays into the Okes half the home team was penalised for holding on in the tackle and No 10 James Wood slotted the penalty. The same player capitalised on a further infringement by the Okes a short time later to make the score 8-6.

The second period began with the Okes looking to strengthen their hold on the game. Coach Gaz Evans went in for a try after a great kick by Dan Fogerty and veteran prop Ian Langbridge causing the Tics to concede a penalty. Meanwhile the Oke back row of Liam Sampson, Dean Abrams and Gaz Evans were tackling Torquay out of the game. Next up on the scoreboard was a try

from converted second row Tom McGratton. A penalty try after the Torquay scrum disintegrated took the score out to 27-6 and the Okes were beginning to look comfortable.

There was another try after a magnificent break by man-of-the match Liam Sampson directly from the kick-off . However, an equally superb tackle by Tics number tenJames Wood prevented the score. Shortly after Liam Sampson did get his try after an astute kick by Joey Bruce.

Torquay conjured their best move of the match with centre Arron Graham showing a good turn of speed to outpace Rory Honeychurch and the Okes’ defence to score a good try which was converted by James Wood.

With over 100 points scored in their last three outings the Okes are making a determined effort to avoid the dreaded play-offs. The mathematics is now simple. With Kingsbridge losing at Truro, the Okes must now win their three remaining matches two of them with a bonus point to win the league.

Okehampton are away to Penryn on Saturday kick-off 3pm followed by the season decider at Saltash on April 30.

The club is appealing for support for these important games.