1sts- Defeated at home by relegation rivals...

On a dank drizzly afternoon Okes began down the slope, now also minus skipper Tom White. The home pack was even more inexperienced this week, with their most capped player a mere 21 years old! It turned out to be a difficult afternoon for the host's front eight as they again struggled to obtain any set piece ball. Okes were soon on the back foot, as the visitors scored an early try after Okes Brandon Horn was harshly sent to the bin. Luke Simmons then pulled a penalty wide, before the Okes finally used the wind and slope to create a spell of prolonged pressure after half an hour's action. The visitors then saw yellow and after concerted close in dominance, Leon Horn pilfered a try from short range. Simmon's conversion brought the scores level.

Then just as things were looking up, a long kick ahead from the Okes went dead, and from the resultant scrum back in Oke's twenty two the visitors went wide and scored in the far corner despite their man deficit. Okes then lost number eight Saul Holliday to injury before the half time whistle arrived. Okes began a crucial second forty up the slope, but their task soon got much harder when Brandon Horn saw a second yellow, which equated to Okes second such accumulative red card in their last two home matches. Now down to 14 they continued to struggle to win any ball. Lack of possession invariably brings frustrations and an increased penalty count. Two more Matson tries as Okes wilted saw Okes hopes disappear. Leon Horn then went to the bin to reduce Oke to thirteen as the hosts failed to muster any real attacking threat. Now with the bonus point in the bag, Matson pounced on further Okes errors in their own twenty two as they tried to move the ball from deep. Two more tries made it a disappointing 38 points to 7 as the conclusion loomed.

Okes finally got on the right side of the ref, and a few consecutive pens allowed the Okes to pound away at the Matson line.The last play of the match saw home hooker Jack Rutley burrow over for a consolation score, converted by Luke Simmons. But as the final whistle blew Okes knew they had not put in the performance that was required in this vital encounter. Now dragged right into the bottom two, Okes need to regroup, work hard and ensure they are ready for their next crucial match at home against bottom side Weston Super Mare in a  fortnight's time.

'Come On You Okes!'