The hosts welcomed back a few returnees but others missed out in this period of constant selection changes. The game marked significant milestones for Tom McGrattan (250 appearances) and Brandon Horn (100 appearances) and the pair, who bleed maroon and amber, rightly led the home side out to mark the occasion.

Okes took a while to settle and the visitors, fighting the drop, took a early lead from a close rage forward rumble. 7-0 down Okes began to threaten but handling errors often put a stop to their attacking endeavours. Frustration was setting in and the visitors were proving stubborn opponents. Finally Okes got a score up the slope. Pat Nash marking his return with a typically rumbustious effort from short range, Simmons converted to tie things up.

Oked remained mainly in control but took until the 32d minute to extend their lead. A neat offload in midfield from Brad Curtis set skipper McGrattan free and he set off on a tremendous run before finding fellow man of the moment Brandon Horn in support to cross for a fine try to delight the home crowd. Simmons again added a useful conversion from wide.

Okes should've pushed on at this point but they failed to deal with the restart, a common theme throughout, and lost Brad Curtis to the bin. The visitors took advantage of Okes errors to break through a tackle midway out to make it 14-12 approaching the interval. Then just before the break, Okes were awarded a penalty from which Leon Horn tapped and went . He was caught just short but offloaded to Saul Holliday on his inside and he stretched over to restore Okes advantage to more than one score. Luke Simmons adding an excellent touchline conversion to make it 21-12 at the break.

Okes started on the front foot as the second forty commenced. Before long they were awarded a penalty from a five meter scum. Tom McGrattan needed no second invitation as he tapped and drove over for the hosts bonus point try and a 26-12 lead after the extras were missed. Okes then lost Pat Nash to the bin and the tot for tat scoring continued as the visitors added a catch and drive score as the Okes faltered . The hosts needed to regain composure and just reduce the errors and they managed just that in a useful ten minute spell. Firstly man of the match Holliday went over for his second as he powered over between the uprights, Then Brad Curtis bullocked his way across the whitewash after a useful Oke driving maul had taken them close. Simmons added one conversion and at 38-17 Okes were comfortable, if not as clinical as they'd hoped.

Newton did respond and as Okes made changes they garnered another catch and drive effort to secure a bonus point in their battle against the drop, There was to be no further scores and when the final whistle went Okes could be satisfied with five points, but are fully aware they need to get back to the form they showed on their log unbeaten run for the matches remaining. Starting with a home cup tie next Saturday against a Ivybridge side fighting relegation in the league above. KO 2.30 and your support as always would be most welcome.

'Come On you Okes!'