Devon Colts cup final

Okehampton Colts 3

Sidmouth Colts 3

FOR the first time in over 30 years the name of Okehampton RFC will appear on the Devon Colts Cup although on this occasion that achievement will be shared with Sidmouth after the two best Colts teams in the county fought out a 3-3 draw in a pulsating final at Oaklands.

Okehampton got off to an encouraging start with plenty of time in the attacking third. Stout and well organised defence was proving difficult to break down – a trait of both sides that ultimately was going to prove the defining factor of the game.

Constant pressure saw the visitors start to concede penalties at the break down and the first scoring opportunity fell to Billy Searle whose penalty attempt drifted just wide of the upright .

The Okehampton back row of Abrams, Sampson and Folland were continuing their season long effectiveness not only with ball in hand but also defensively where they were being effective in restricting the Sidmouth half backs options .

The visitors found ways of relieving the pressure with some last ditch tackling and relieving kicks. From such a clearance came a good charge down from Sampson but the ball fell into Sidmouth hands and was cleared deep into the Okes' 22. An excellent clearance into touch by Dean Andrew saw the resultant line out stolen by Folland and when the ball came through the three's, wing Giles Heard hit a great line in midfield to scythe his way through the Sidmouth defence with only the full back being the last man standing to make the crucial tackle .

Then followed a strange error strewn period for Okehampton. Numerous handling errors and soft penalties culminated with Sidmouth taking lead. The hosts were fortunate not to go further behind before the break with three kickable penalties being missed .

The second half saw Okehamptons playing down the pitch with the breeze behind them. It only took two minutes before Searle equalised the scores with a penalty. With tails now up, the Moorlanders now began to dominate periods of the game. Searle gave a master class of territorial line kicking to keep Sidmouth pinned in their own half and with Oke's player of the match Heard and Kieran Lee both threatening each time they got hands on the ball the game was now being dominated .

Full credit to Sidmouth whose defence was of the highest order and they were still able to look threatening with when they did get into the Oke half with their well vaunted back line.

As the clocked ticked down it was down to Billy Searle to try and seal the win with two late drop goal attempts.

Ultimately it was defence that ruled the day . Both teams had done their home work with much of the advantages each had had in previous encounters.

Obviously both would have liked to have secured the outright win but both teams should feel proud to have the Colts Cup on their CV and for the Okes a fitting tribute to an outstanding season that sees them unbeaten with a playing record of played 23, won 22 and drawn one.