After an eloquent and entertaining pretty match lunch session with ex ORFC, England and Lions legend Julian White, the crowd gathered expecting a strong start from the hosts. In fact it was anything but,as the hosts began soporifically and the lively visitors from Somerset needed no encouragement to profit from Oke’s early slumbers.

In fact less than a minute was on the clock when Winscombe first struck. A hopeful kick ahead was not dealt with by the home defence and it was 0-7 before the crowd had even settled. This didn’t seem to awaken the Okes though as they conceded two more tries out wide after missed tackles. As a result, with only 22 minutes on the clock, Oke found themselves 0-21 down and in a bit of a hole.

A turning point was the arrival from the bench of the talismanic Tom McGrattan. On as a result of an injury to Rib Fishleigh he. slid into the centre and immediately began to put players through holes, with the delay on the pass often proving crucial.
Okes were now fully awake and got their first points on the board after 27 minutes. Lock Brad Curtis, who went onto complete the full eigthy minutes for the first time in living memory, crashed over from short range. Skipper Simmons converted and Okehampton were on the board.

Okes were now in the ascendancy and injuries didn’t help the visitor cause. On 37 minutes McGrattan delayed a lovely pass to put the prolific Leon Horn over on the right. Unusually Simmons missed the extras. The hosts were now resurgent and there was still time before the interval for Horn to bag his brace, the lively full back crossing in clubhouse corner after another McGrattan assist.

Halftime arrived and the Okes were only trailing by four after the worst possible start. The sides turned around with Oke much the happier.

When the second-half kicked off Winscombe extended their advantage after a successful penalty kick. It was just a blip in the host’s progress though as they went on dominate the majority of the second 40.

On 50 minutes the Oke bonus point score arrived as Saul Holliday, back in the side after an enforced injury break, stretched over for a score converted by Skipper Simmons, bringing the scores level at 24 apiece.

The Visitors then missed a kickable penalty before Okes encamped once more in the Winscombe 22. Eventually Callum Arnold, currently plying his trade in the back row, forced his way over for the host’s fifth try. Simmons landed an excellent conversion to make it 31-24.

Now fully on top, Simmons soon added a penalty kick to extend the host’s advantage before left wing Mike Stevens put the icing on the cake. Showing good strength to sit down his opposite number, then pace to finish, he put the Okes into a comfortable lead entering the last few minutes. Simmons adding the obligatory extras.

As the game reach its conclusion, the visitors showed great spirit and considerable desire as they crossed for their own bonus point try right on the final whistle.

So, after a very inauspicious start Okes finally found their feet and the crowd were rewarded with some excellent scores and a 5 point victory to round off a superb day, started by an ex Oke legend. The lads now look to maintain this run as they travel to North Petherton next Saturday, kickoff 2:30 pm …your support as always would be invaluable.