In the first encounter with the Somerset visitors since 1993, the hosts were strangely subdued for long parts of a very open encounter,where defences on both sides struggled.

A ragged start down the slope saw the visitors in the early ascendancy. They were rewarded with an early penalty goal. Okes replied with a charge down try on debut for flanker Khane Taylor-Young. Morgan Woods on his return to home colours added the extras for a 7-3 lead.

The home side struggled throughout at scrum time and the line out was up and down. As a result the visitors had the majority of possession and territory. However Okes stretched their lead on 25 minutes with one of their few pieces of fluent play all afternoon. A nice cross kick from Leon Horn, standing in at stand off with Luke Simmons out injured, was caught by winger Mike Stevens who fed Rob Fishleigh to score. The fullback, called out of his retirement, saw his score again converted by woods.

Okes were hardly in the ascendancy at this point but they soon profited with an interception try by fly half Horn, who ran in from halfway. Yet again Woods was solid from the tee. 21-3 didn't reflect the game but the hosts, looking rusty after a lack of pre season action, would hope to take that advantage into the interval. Unfortunately they soon found themselves defending close to their own line as the changeover loomed. They failed to prevent the Wivvy number eight crossing from a scrum though, as the visitors reduced the margin to 11 points.

The second half began in a similar fashion, the the hosts continuing to accumulate a huge amount of penalties against them. Wivvy potted one of the many to make it 21-13. Not long after, the Okes once more scored against the run of play. Taylor- Young was again the instigator with another charge down, followed by a kick ahead. Leon Horn was as always, on hand to gather and run in under the posts for his brace and a 28-13 lead. When skipper Brad Curtis bulldozed his way over on a short line soon after, Okes, despite their under par performance, seemed home and hosed at 35-13 after another conversion from the hundred percent Woods.

Things are never that straightforward at the Showground though, and Okes slowly began to unravel. Disconnected in defence and passive at the breakdown they allowed the visitors to produce a stirring comeback. A quick repost Wivvy try and a yellow card for the Okes saw things get interesting. Buoyed, the visitors soon struck again and the lead was now just 35-27. All confidence was now oozing from the visitors and Okes just couldn’t win any ball. The inevitable try wasn’t long in coming and this crazy match was now just a one point affair.

Into the last few minutes, the home side needed to respond. Boosted by a rare brace of penalty awards, they finally entered the red zone and were rewarded with a catch and drive score for hooker Jack Rutley. A first miss from the tee for Woods left it a nerve inducing six point lead into the last four minutes.

The hosts failed to hold out under ever increasing pressure and when Wivvy scored again, just to the left of the posts, they seemed certain to take a priceless lead. They missed the conversion though and Okes breathed a sigh of relief. Of course the tension didn’t end there… there was still time for yet another scrum penalty against the Okes. Goal was refused l, but from the kick to touch the visitors drive towards the home line. Inches from glory they crucially knocked on and the final whistle blew.

So a five point win, but that and the 100 cap appearances for Saul Holliday and Leon Horn were some of the few positives. Okes got away with one but will need to improve as they travel to Crediton for a tasty local derby next Saturday. Let the train take the strain and come along to support the lads..

“Come On You Okes!”