It was always going to be hard to match the performance and intensity of last week's victory at Champions Camborne. It was more a case of after the lord mayor's show for the hosts as they seemed a little flat all afternoon. To be fair, this is just the sort of match the Okes would've lost when they were going through their mid season malaise, however winning breeds confidence and the Okes found a way to win despite being nowhere near their best.

Visitors Old Cents had to win to maintain any lingering hopes of survival, so it was no surprise that they produced a determined and committed performance. They began down the slope on a grey, drizzly afternoon and took advantage of a slow hesitant start from the Okes to slot an early penalty to move three points ahead. Play was very scrappy from both sides throughout the first quarter, Okes seemingly lacking a spark, with handling errors and hesitant decision making preventing the hosts establishing any sort of continuity.

Okes coughed up several penalties as this punctuated encounter hit the second quarter. Okes were also uncharacteristically slipping off a few tackles, very unlike their recent defensive solidity, and the visitors' rangy centre took full advantage with a powerful break which ultimately brought forth the Gloucester outfit's first try of the afternoon. The simple conversion was added and suddenly Okes were ten points behind and yet to really land an attacking blow of any sort.

The interval was now just five minutes away and from the try restart finally Okes were on the scoreboard . A penalty was kicked into the clubhouse corner where the hosts finally could exert some pressure on their visitors, whose defence had not yet been tested. From the lineout Okes battered away around the fringes, until eventually Johnny King, currently ensconced at hooker, powered his way over to reduce the arrears. Dan Fogerty converted and it remained 10-7 when the ref blew to curtail a subdued first forty.

The second half commenced and the hosts applied early pressure. Once more though passes went to ground and one such slip up allowed the visitors to counter. They attacked up Okes left flank from deep. The Okes defence was not on point and Old Cents winger eventually crossed wide left after some lax home defence. To rub salt in, home skipper Fogerty saw yellow for an adjudged seat belt tackle and the home task got slightly harder. The game wasn't following the script that the home crowd had expected, compounding errors Okes discipline, much improved over recent weeks, slipped back to its bad old ways. First Saul Holliday, then Brandon Horn also saw yellow as the hosts struggled for fluency and structure.

Thirty minutes now remained and the home side were having to really dig deep to rectify the position they had got themselves into. As the binned players slowly began to return, Okes created some territory and pressure entering the final quarter. The home set scrum was now well on top and it came as no surprise when Cents finally lost one to the bin, after several infringements in their own twenty two. The build up of pressure was finally rewarded with an old school pushover try for the Okes, with the experience of Tom Mcgrattan steering things home from number eight. He grounded as the home pack advanced over the whitewash, and with the now restored Dan Fogerty adding the extras it was just a three point ball game.

There was still plenty of time remaining for the Okes to snatch the win. There were still errors but the hosts were now on top and pressing hard. Okes made good ground up the right flank, the ball was then recycled and moved into midfield where Brandon Horn was put into a gap, the Okes centre needed no second invitation as he raced over to give the hosts the lead for the first time in the match. The conversion was missed and although it was only a two point lead, Okes were not about to give it up. They managed the last few minutes effectively to see the game out, to secure another four points and climb another couple of places in the table.

So, all in, not a pretty affair, but still a positive step forward as Okes beat the visitors for the first time in four encounters at level five. Okes were already safe, but their visitors learned post match that they would now be relegated and will look to rebuild next season.

Okes meanwhile have a rearranged  trip to Exmouth to look forward to next Saturday. A double header of league and cup this should be a tough encounter on the East Devon coast. Why not jump on board the train and take in the match as the maroon and ambers look to finish with a flourish.. 'Come On You Okes!'