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Crediton Colts 7

Okehampton Colts 35

OKEHAMPTON used this opportunity to give several players a rest and game time to a good number of first year Colts who previously featured mainly from the replacement bench.

The early exchanges were evenly contested and while the Crediton number eight and one of the host's centres looked threatening on the charge it was the visitors who were showing far more continuity with ball in hand. moving well through the phases with good ball retention.

Jake Giles-Phillips and Jake Johns were securing good line out ball and with Matt Baker winning against the head at scrum time there were plenty of opportunities but the Okes were making hard work of gaining the initial score .

Debutant fly half Jordan Petherbridge made some superb ball distribution taking matters close to the hosts line where Josh Bickley saw the gap at close quarters to scuttle over for the first try. which Petherbridge converted.

Crediton came back and camped themselves in the visitors 22 for an extended period. From a five metre scrum, the Okes' pack failed to control the ball and the host's scrum half pounced on the ball to equal the scores just before half time.

Some changes were made at half time and with wind and slope behind them captain Stephen Paul galvanised his troops. Giles Heard, with some great offloads, and Luke Dennis made good ground through mid field. Fly half Petherbridge, deep into the Crediton 22, showed some deft footwork to cross under the posts for a try which he converted.

From the restart the Okes Heard again made some fine off loads while Pat Webb made his presence felt with some good support play.

From a breakdown close to the Crediton line, scrum half Bickley charged down a clearing kick, collected the loose ball and scored; Petherbridge converted.

The visitors continued to play some attractive running rugby for the remainder of the game and with further tries from Bickley and Petherbridge , both converted by the latter ran out winners.