THE Okehampton girls’ U14 hockey team travelled to Exeter on Sunday to play in the Devon U14s hockey festival.

The team took some time to settle into their game and, despite having equal possession in their evenly matched contest against Exe 2, a lapse in concentration gave Exe a 1-0 win.

Oke then took on a strong Marjons team testing Oke’s defensive play.  Marjons scored a runaway goal in the first minute of the game and then Izzy Rowlands and Lagaya Coatham tackled strongly for Oke and with quick interceptions from Maddie Davison kept Marjons at bay for the remainder of the match.

A determined Oke team attacked against Exeter side ISCA and their efforts were rewarded when Katie Chapman won the ball in midfield, passed it on to Eleanor Marvin, who made no mistake in finding the back of the ISCA net.  

ISCA fought back and were awarded a penalty corner which they converted into an equalising goal.

Oke were growing in confidence as they took on Exe 1 with Jess Bowles scoring an excellent goal from a narrow angled shot which outwitted all the Exe defence. Isabella Pavey and Emma Pike worked hard in midfield for Oke, dropping back to defend but also changing to attack when Oke had possession. Exe were well practised at goal shooting and Oke keeper Ella Kaye made some superb saves but Exe slipped in an equaliser before the final whistle.

Oke had saved their best hockey for the last game against Sidmouth and Ottery.  Katie Chapman showed her skill when she picked up the ball in the middle of the pitch and used her nifty stick work to outwit the defenders and hammer the ball into the net for an Oke win.