Western Counties West

Okehampton 27

Wellington 7

Although this looks like another comfortable bonus point victory for the Okes, there were times in the first period where the outcome seemed far less clear cut as both sides initially struggled to put their stamp on proceedings.

Okehampton played down the slope in the first half. They started sloppily; unforced errors and turnovers were allowing the visitors early possession; although they did not offer much threat with the plentiful early ball they had.

In fact it was the home side who had the first chance of points when a penalty kick was missed by winger Craig Dennis. The hosts were gaining good clean ball via their set pieces, a facet that was to prove significant as the match wore on. However in the loose they were lacking the link between backs and forwards, allowing Welly to pilfer several turnovers.

When the Okes had a first clear sniff of points, they turned down the simple kick and elected to scrummage. A free kick to Wellington resulted and another chance had gone begging. The home eight was warming to the task though, and frustration caused the visitors captain and blindside Lloyd Wilcocks, to see yellow midway through the half.

A man to the good up front, Oke's already burgeoning scrummage superiority was now taking it's toll. A series of five metre efforts resulted in the opening score, as scrum half Joey Bruce snuck over on the blindside of yet another set piece. Craig Dennis popped over the conversion. Shortly after the Okes' defence went to sleep up its left flank when visiting wingman Ben Gamlin rounded the last defender to cross by the uprights. Full back Mark Nichols converted to make it 7-7.

Ten minutes before the interval Oke nosed in front again with a Dennis penalty. The increased the lead when a quick tap penalty ball reached Luke Honeychurch, who cut against the grain and clean through the Wellington rearguard. He backed himself, and dived over in the bottom right hand corner for a score right on half time that severely damaged the Somerset side's moral at the changeover.

Leading 15-7 as the second period kicked off, the Okes dominated long periods territorially for the remainder of the match, and Wellington rarely ventured towards the home side's 22. Another series of five metre scrums, and another set of visiting eight infringements culminated in a pick up and stretch score from number eight Neil Perrott. Craig Dennis added the two points.

A bonus point was begging to be taken, and Wellington were mainly on the defensive. Their cause not helped by another yellow for captain Wilcox sent off with ten minutes to go. Ever alert, scrum half Joey Bruce scampered blind into the space presented by the well driven, and slightly wheeled, set piece. He timed his pass to perfection to draw the last man, and put replacement wing Alex Dennis over in clubhouse corner.

So another win sees Oke up to third in what is becoming an increasingly difficult table to predict.

With the second team into their league fixtures, and third team matches planned the club asks all new players, or players who have not yet turned in this season, to contact the managers and/ or come training on Tuesdays and Thursday evenings at 7pm.