After honourable defeats away at the top two sides in the last couple of matches, Okes took on third place camels in the last home encounter of the season.

Oke began with the wind and slope in their favour on lock Sonny Luxton’s 100th first team appearance, but it was the visitors who were quickest out of the blocks, almost opening the scoring in the first few minutes. However, a knock on saw Okes hold out and they then took control for the majority of the first half. Striking first, it was yet another opportunistic chip , chase and re-gather from prolific full back Leon Horn that opened the scoring. Skipper Simmons converted and the Okes were ahead after 12 minutes. Then on the 20 minute mark it was brother Brandon‘s turn to score a fine individual try. Taking the ball in midfield on a switch, he cut back and out around the cover to score beside the posts, allowing Simmons a simple conversion and giving the hosts a 14-0 lead. The dry conditions allowed both sides to throw the ball around as is their want, this made for a very entertaining game.

Camels were now struggling to contain the home attack and and the hosts third try arrived on 28 minutes. Replacement hooker Johnny King caused initial chaos with a thunderous charge and several phases later Saul Holliday reached out through a tackle for his 12th try of the season. This time Simmons was awry with the extras. The home attack was now buoyant, and they grabbed their fourth and bonus point try before the interval. it was that man Leon Horn again, bagging his brace, and 21st try of the season from a set move off a scrum in midfield. He broke clean through the middle from near halfway, leaving it at 26-0 after the simple conversion.

Then crucially Okes gave away a penalty from the restart, and the camels took full advantage with a corner score right on the interval to raise their hopes whilst putting slight doubt into the minds of the hosts.

Right from the second half starting, it was not surprising that the visitors were in the ascendancy .Boosted by their late first half score, and with the hosts slightly off, it wasn’t long before the visitors reduced the arrears with their second score from close range. The tide was definitely turning when the Cornishman grabbed their third try after a missed tackle in midfield by the Okes now stuttering defence.
it was now really game on and the home side were struggling to get out of their own half, constantly falling out of the referee. However, they did escape for a brief period and were rewarded with a penalty from in front which Simmons landed to extend the margin to 10 points entering the last quarter.

The hosts then the best to throw the game away with poor decisions, failing to kick penalties to touch and this coupled with indecision and lack of clear exit strategies in their own 22 allowed the visitors to cross for their own bonus point try, bringing them within just a single score .

Okes, with changes now due to injuries, rallied. The visiting hooker saw yellow as Oke piled on the pressure, and from the resultant line out Oke forced their way over for a score grounded by hooket Jack Rutley. League top scorer Simmons converted excellently from the touchline for his 191st point of the season and Okes had some breathing space as the game headed for its conclusion.

There was little exit anxiety in the time remaining as the hosts came away with the full five points and now head into the last game of the season away at Wellington, which will decide who they play in the end of season playoffs.

“Come on your Okes! “