Western Counties West

Okehampton 19

Tiverton 26

PROMOTION chasing Tiverton eventually left with five points, but were pushed all the way by a depleted Okes outfit.

However, the remaining squad, with only pride to play for in their mid-table position, put up a sterling show against their third place visitors. Playing up the slope and into a strong headwind, the hosts were put under early pressure bur resisted stoutly. Tiverton used the combination of boot and wind to come close on a few occasions before the Okes broke out in style after eight minutes.

The home side ran the ball from deep within their own 22 and winger Rob Fishleigh put up a high kick, which he adeptly regathered. Flanker Dean Abrams was as ever in support for Oke and he took play into the visitors' 22.

Via recycled possession the ball was hacked across the sodden surface to an unmarked Rory Honeychurch and the left winger crossed for the opening five pointer. The difficult conversion went astray but Oke had the lead against the run of play.

Tiverton soon responded though and took the lead after 17 minutes. The visitors' tactics may be one dimensional but they are effective — yielding four tries during the match as their catch and drive ploy reaped significant rewards.

The first away score was a sign of what was to come as Oke initially conceded an unnecessary penalty. The ball was put into touch, and as the maul gathered momentum all the Tiverton backs joined the melee resulting in centre Lewis grounding the ball. Full back Atkins added the extra two.

The Okes continued to attempt to move the ball through the hands despite the poor playing conditions, but were being turned over too often at the breakdown where Tiverton flanker Chanin was a constant thorn.

From another penalty turnover a mirror image line out ensued and the predictable roll over try resulted. Twenty minutes in and 14-7 down, Okehampton knew they had to keep the margin at half time within reasonable reach to allow them to use conditions with purpose in the second 40 minutes. Unfortunately for Oke they could not stop the cycle of penalty awards and pressure in their own 22. Another penalty to touch was initially repelled after 31 minutes, but Tiverton kept possession and attacked the ruck fringe where a missed Oke tackle resulted in a third try, once again converted by Atkins.

The Okes needed a foothold as the match was slipping away, and a piece of opportunism brought it after 38 minutes. Tiverton moved the ball blind from a midfield scrum, but Rory Honeychurch intercepted a pass and run in from half way after stepping inside the last covering defender. Skipper Tom Powell converted and Oke were right back in it.

Naively though, the Okes failed to use the required exit strategy when in possession in their own 22. A penalty ensued at the breakdown as Oke dithered, and yet another catch and drive try arrived via centre Lewis right on the stroke of half time.

Oke had now left themselves a lot to do at 26-12.

The home side started the second half on top and were soon on the offensive. Tiverton's back play was proving ineffective and easily contained by the Okes' defence, and as a result the home side was soon pressing for a score.

The maroon and amber's attacks were now making inroads and a third try was looking likely. It arrived shortly after the 50 minute mark as after a snipe from scrum half Joey Bruce was repelled on the line, flanker Dean Abrams fought his way over the whitewash.

Powell did the necessary with the conversion and there was only a converted score in it with a quarter of the match remaining.

At this point the Okes pushed hard but a missed touch from a penalty kick in the Tiverton half seemed to lift the visitors, and Oke never really recovered after this missed opportunity.

Tiverton were happy to grind away in the narrow channels and the Okes tried to play too much rugby in their own half rather than using the wind to obtain field position, Conditions under foot worsened and Okehampton had to keep out another catch and drive effort and the match entered the last 15 minutes.

Even when Tiverton lost a forward to the bin, Oke could not find the required score. The home pack was now completely dominant at scrum time but play was mainly confined to the midfield area.

A penalty to Tiverton eventually signalled the end of a tight encounter but, as last week, it was the Okes, who were on the wrong end of a close final scoreline.