Devon and Cornwalll League

OKEHAMPTON maintained their position at the top of the league after this win which was less comfortable than the final score suggests.

On another day when the breeze played a part in proceedings, this was certainly a game of two very different halves.

Showing a couple of changes from last week's victorious side, Oke welcomed back the experience of Steve Alford and the threat of Lee Carey.

Oke played with the slope and breeze and were quickly into their stride. With just a couple of minutes gone, fly half Gary Sizmur, who was an attacking threat all afternoon, made a lovely break and linked with his back row. The ball was carried on and then spread wide through the hands, allowing prolific full back Gareth Espin to apply the finish. Lee Carey converted and the hosts were off to the perfect start.

The mid table visitors were caught cold and were struggling to defend out wide although their forwards were competing gamely in both set and open play. It was out wide again that Oke inflicted more damage, when good support play and effective handling resulted in a long miss pass out to the left flank. Fly half Sizmur found himself on the end of the move and he crossed the whitewash to increase the home side's lead, which was extended to 14 points by another successful Carey conversion.

Wellington were limited to the occasional foray into the Oke half and the home side knew that more points were required with the elements in the first period to feel comfortable at the interval.

The lead was soon increased by the metronomic boot of Carey as he added another three points from a well struck penalty; the winger was to have a 100% success rate at the end of the afternoon.

The Somerset side were still well in this match and the next score would be a vital one; Okehampton duly obliged with the best move of the match. Espin entered on the blindside and was clean through a gap, he provided a lovely inside pass to the supporting Lee Carey who scampered over to the appreciation of the crowd.

The two points were added and the interval arrived. Although 24-0 ahead, Oke had only shown glimpses of their attacking potential and knew the second half would be far tougher.

So it proved as the second period was a dour one. The weather worsened and Wellington came out far more determined and took the game to their hosts for long periods. Oke made changes but the majority of possession and territory now belonged to the visitors.

Oke defended stoically but the crowd sensed a score coming. It soon came as the visitors encamped in the home side's 22.

After several concerted drives the visiting scrum half eventually bundled over to the left of the sticks and with fly half Parsons adding the extras it was 24-7 with a quarter of the match remaining.

The score was no more than the visitors' play deserved and a feeling of frustration and pressure seemed to edge into Oke's play.

The visitors had the upper hand until they spread the ball looking for another score.

Centre Luke Honeychurch came out of the line to intercept a pass, and then ran half the length of the pitch before feeding the supporting Espin who crossed to make the result safe. Carey converted the last points of the game and Oke were now comfortable.

The home side were happy with two more points if not that pleased with their second half performance.

The first half though showed the attacking threat that the team can produce. The visitors will feel hard done by with the final score, whilst Oke will know that another tough game lies ahead with the imminent local derby with Crediton this coming Saturday.

Exmouth thirds 0

Okehampton seconds 10

WITH Oke Seconds weakened by injury and illness this week's match was always going to be hard. Playing with the wind in their backs in the first half, Okehampton needed to start well but were slow to get going. Then up stepped Tom Powell who seems to be revelling in his new position at centre, with two tries in ten minutes — both conversions were missed, to end the half on top.

In the second half it was all about defending their lead, fronting up very well against Exmouth's bigger pack and grind out another win.