Western Counties West

Okehampton 24

Kingsbridge 14

THE Okes' rounded off another pleasing campaign in Western Counties West with yet another home victory. This win kept Okehampton secure in fifth place in the league table, and although the game had nothing riding on it, both sides were keen to round off their season with a win.

Kingsbridge had saved themselves from relegation the previous week and were fast out of the blocks. The ex- players from the Okehampton pre match reunion had barely taken their seats when visiting scrum half Tristan Couch peeled off a close range maul to open the scoring. The conversion attempt struck the uprights.

The hosts played up the slope and took time to settle. As has often been the case this season, the home scrum started to gain the upper hand in the set. Okehampton were going for a pushover try after 15 minutes when the ball popped out of the scrummage. The ball was gathered by the visitors but in attempting an offload the ball went to ground and was gathered by home centre Kevin Dennis. He needed no second invitation and set off on a powerful run that left several would be tacklers in his wake as he crossed for the home side's opening try. He failed to convert.

Okehampton were now into their stride and it was not long before they took the lead. From a midfield set scrum number eight Steve Alford fed scrum half Gary Sizmur, who stepped inside the visitors' defence and breezed past the full back to cross under the posts. Fly half Jordan Lee converted to make the score 12-5.

Kingsbridge, who are a sizable outfit, are in a run of good form and it was no surprise when they hit back. Two crisply struck penalties from winger Matt Barlow reduced the hosts lead to a one point as half time approached. Barlow had a chance to regain the lead for his side right on the half time whistle, this time though his effort drifted wide, and the Okes went into the break knowing that the advantage of the slope and a fairly strong breeze would be with them on the resumption.

Surprisingly it was Kingsbridge who opened the scoring in the second period. Winger Barlow potting a relatively easy chance to regain the lead.

The Okes brought on Gareth Espin and Neil Perrot and were unlucky when a couple of good looking kicks ahead took unfortunate bounces to run dead. The home scrum had the visitors in trouble, and some good interplay had taken them into the King's 22. Good clean quick ball came from a resulting ruck, to give the Okes their chance. Scrum half Gary Sizmur showed good vision to throw a long miss pass to the right wing to number eight Steve Alford, who stepped inside a desperate cover tackle and crossed in the corner for what was his longest try run in he has had all season. The difficult conversion attempt went wide.

In the last quarter Kingsbridge were under pressure in their own 22 and tried to clear their lines. The kick ahead was taken by full back Matt Dennis who counter attacked deep into the heart of the Kings' defence; good hands from Dennis and flanker Simon Cox resulted in the Okes being stopped just short. Hooker Bruce Griffiths was on hand to scamper over between the uprights for a bonus point try.

Another home win for Okehampton was a good way to finish the league season.

n On Saturday the climax to the Okes' season is the Devon Intermediate cup final away to local rivals Bideford. A supporters bus will be available and the club would welcome as much support as possible as the first team seek to regain the cup from the current holders.