The visitors started on the front foot but failed to put any points on the board in the first 10 minutes. The hosts then punished two penalty offences from the visitors to take a six nil lead after 11 minutes.

The visiting scrum was now well on top though and they finally made their dominance tell with an opening try after 18 minutes.An initial break from full back Leon Horn set the platform, then when the ball was recycled left from a ruck 10 yards out, Callum Arnold, having to play in the second row this weekend, powered over for the Oke’s first five pointer.

The try went unconverted, but Okes were now gaining constant territory through their forward carries. The second try wasn’t long in arriving and again it was initiated with a Leon Horn break from deep. This time he raced up the left flank, once the ball was moved right a close range ruck was formed from which fly half Luke Simmons broke up the short side to make it 10-6 after 22 minutes.

The visitors were now well and truly on top and camped in the home half. Luke Simmons intercepted a pass, and after he was tackled a couple of forward rumbles followed before prop Pat Nash picked up to cross between the posts. Simmons converted to make it 17-6 with seven minutes remaining of the first half. No more scores were forthcoming before the change over as Oke failed to profit further from their superiority.

The second half began and Okes were slow out of the blocks The home side were proving hard to shake off and they reduced the arrears after Oke conceded consecutive penalties, allowing the home side to power over from a close range forward rumble. The conversion was good, 13-17.

The visitors finally settled down and started to test the home defence in their own half. The bonus point try arrived after initial good work from centre Morgan Woods. When the ball was moved left it was that man Arnold who proved unstoppable once more, to cross halfway out on the left. Simmons added an excellent conversion.

The last quarter then saw Okes falling foul of the referee and seeing Sonny Luxton sent to the bin as a result. Home tails were now up as they sought valuable points in their battle against the drop. A second try for the hosts up the left flank, in the corner in front of the clubhouse saw their hopes raised.

Now with only a six point advantage Oke needed to reassert themselves as the game neared it’s conclusion. They finally killed off home hopes with a last-minute try in the top right corner. Good interplay, and a Woods offload, produced an overlap for right wing Rob Fishleigh who clinically took his chance to seal the result and a valuable five points on the road.

So despite being forced into another raft of changes this week the Okes did enough to get the job done. The visitors now look ahead to a cup final next weekend against local rivals Crediton, whatever the lineups it’s sure to be a cracking contest, kick off is 2.30 pm… you would be mad to miss it.

“Come on you Okes”!

Okehampton RFC

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