Okes started brightly down the slope and were rewarded with a close range try from Tom Mcgrattan, converted well from wide by full back Luke Simmons. The visitors responded with a penalty and then took the lead after number eight Bargent broke through a weak midfield tackle before racing over in the corner.

The hosts responded well and regained the lead at 12-8 after another close range score . This time it was blindside Saul Holliday who burrowed over. Crucially the conversion was missed left after an attempted charge down applied pressure. Okes were on top at scrum time but then lost Brad Curtis, one of three influential Okes forwards to leave the fray through injuries. The others, later in the game being scorers Mcgrattan and Holliday. The match lacked real structure throughout but the home side extended their lead to 15-8 after a successful penalty from Simmons. That's how it remained until the break.

Now playing with the slope, Exmouth soon reduced the arrears with another penalty. Then on 55 minutes Okes were applying pressure and with a penalty advantage dropped the ball with a clear run in. Three points instead of seven was the result, to extend the score to 18-11. Both sides lineouts were erratic and with just over a quarter remaining three points were handed back to the Cockles via another penalty infringement. Tit for tat it continued and Simmons landed another lengthy kick to once more make it a seven point margin at 21-14.

Okes were then hit by injuries and Exmouth finally made them pay with a catch and drive try, but the kick was wide and Okes still held a slender two point lead entering the dying minutes. A kick deep into Okes twenty two saw the hosts attempt to run from deep instead of putting boot to ball. The inevitable penalty arose and the visitors landed it to regain the lead as the conclusion was imminent.

Deep into injury time Okes managed to apply enough pressure to be rewarded with a kickable penalty in the visitors twenty two. The kick would surely seal victory and break the long losing streak. Unfortunately it was missed, and despite being in command for long periods Okes had let a crucial home victory slip from their grasp.

A tough one to take for this young , developing Okes outfit. The Christmas break now brings a chance to regroup before another tense tie at Ivybridge in Jan. Your support as always is most appreciated . 'Come On you Okes!'

Okehampton RFC

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