Western Counties West

Wellington 32

Okehampton 24

FOR the second time this season Oke came off second best after a tight encounter against the highly fancied Somerset side. The Okes deserved at least a bonus point from this open affair but crucial wrong options at key moments proved their undoing.

The Okes started brightly and spread the ball with confidence from the offset. They took the lead late in the first quarter with a try from wing Rob Fishleigh who supported a typical Richie friend break to cross under the uprights. Fly half Kevin Dennis converted. It was not too long before Okes struck again to really put the wind up the hosts, this time an astute chip ahead was gathered by centre Tom Powell. He made good ground before finding the supporting Kev Dennis with a neat switch pass and the fly half crossed under the posts before adding the extras himself. This raised the home side's efforts and it was not long before they exploited a gap out wide to reduce the arrears although the conversion was missed. As half time approached, Oke hooker Bruce Griffiths was sin binned and the hosts used the extra man advantage to cross through their pack for a converted score that left only two points in it at the break.

The Okes were having a good day in the lineouts and things were fairly even at scrum time. Fly half Dennis accepted one of two penalty chance to increase Okes lead at the start of the second half but with both sides moving the ball well it was obvious more scores were imminent. Wellington levelled with a corner try; then Oke went back in front briefly, after a fine Tom McGratton score. The flanker showing great pace to cross from distance after supporting yet another Richie Friend clean break.

In the last quarter the game turned in the hosts favour. Firstly they turned over Oke ball and levelled the scores after the home centre crossed between the uprights to make it 24-24. Then, as the visitors tried running from deep inside their own 22, a loose pass was pounced upon for a score wide out that gave Wellington the lead for the first time in the match at 29-24. Oke were then playing catch-up rugby and conceded a long-range penalty that was converted to give the home side some breathing space. Despite this Okehampton still had the opportunity to take something but a couple of eminently kickable penalties saw no further addition to the score.

Wellington had by now brought veteran warhorse and ex-England international Dave Simms into the fray and he was able to ensure that the home pack closed out the remaining minutes by keeping the ball tight and away from the opposition backs. This was a thoroughly entertaining encounter and one in which this young Okes side performed admirably.