Pethy, with ex Okes coach Matt Titchas at the helm, had a strong start to the season and this was always likely to be a close encounter. Oke played up the slight slope initially on a dark, floodlit afternoon and got off to the worst possible start. A box kick immediately after the kickoff appeared to be knocked on in the aerial challenge that ensued, but the referee disagreed and allowed Petherton ‘s number 7 to take the ball two yards in front of his teammate, then run in unopposed under the posts. Shocking the visitors and putting them seven points behind, with barely a minute on the clock.

Okes were hardly off the bus but began to build their way into the game. The visitors were soon entering the hosts 22 and with a penalty 15 yards out were in a strong position. However, when awarded a penalty kick to touch, Okes kicked the ball dead at this error came back to bite them. Shortly after another kick ahead from midfield also went dead, and from the ensuing scrum found themselves back ensconced in their own 22. Pethy then benefited from a no arms tackle and kicked to the corner. Several phases later they ploughed over to stretch the lead to 12-0 after 13 minutes.

From the restart an Oke player was taken out with an illegal high tackle, as a result the host’s second row was sent to the bin. This gave Oke a boost and with their scrum already beginning to dominate, they kicked to the corner. They opted for a catch and drive. A strong rolling maul was set in motion and with several joining the melee, Okes were over. Number eight Saul Holliday emerged with the ball., Simmons landed the conversion and it was now 12-7 and the Maroon and Ambers were in the ascendancy .

The visitors were now on top and were held up short. Also they were beginning to fall foul of the referees whistle. Marley Parker was making his presence felt with several strong hits in the midfield and Leon Horn struck a sweet 50-22. Crucially the pressure wasn’t converted into points before the interval and the home side turned around with a five point advantage.

The Okes travelling support were hoping for a strong start to the second 40, but the third quarter was a disappointment as both sides cancelled each other out. Okes couldn’t gain enough possession to impose themselves on the home defence. The visitors main threat at this point seemed to be their set scrum which had the home pack in all sorts of trouble. On 60 minutes they found themselves finally within 5 yards of the home try line. Several penalties followed m, but unfortunately wrong options proved costly as they failed to make their scrum dominance count. However ,finally after much pressure and numerous penalties, prop Pat Nash burrowed over from short range for a second score, which when converted by Simmons gave the Okes a narrow two point lead entering the last quarter.

Unfortunately, Okes bad habit of switching off after scoring repeated it’s ugly head once more, and the visitors flew up the left touch line when there seem led to be nothing on. Despite being tackled just short, from the ensuing possession they forced their way over to regain the lead once more

So three points behind, Okes now found themselves severely on the back foot as the referee consistently penalised them and the home pressure mounted. Oke defended manfully but it seemed inevitable a home score would come as the visitors couldn’t escape the confines of their own 22. Eventually the inevitable fourth try for the home side came as Okes finally cracked out wide. With the conversion being missed it was 22-14 with time running out.

Oked restarted the game and were awarded a penalty for another dangerous high tackle. Once more a Pethy player saw yellow. Amazingly the ref said there was only one minute remaining, so Oke decided to put the ball between the posts to gain a losing bonus point and one last chance from the restart.

Receiving the restart suddenly Oke upped a gear and broke out from their own 22, with strong interplay and running taking them to the to the home side’s 22. This last play continued as Oke moved the ball wide left and hit a short line from a rock about 15 yards out. It seemed like a last gasp score was on the cards, but somehow the ball emerged on the home side from the resulting ruck and the home side booted into touch to finish the match.

So all the visitors had to show for their commendable efforts was a losing bonus point as yet another tight encounter went against them. It seems all matches remain in the balance until the last five minutes currently and Okes just need to get themselves on the right side of a result and the wins will return .

So one that got away, but a solid all round performance where just a few costly errors ultimately proved decisive. No match next week before the visit of second place Ivybridge the following week, kickoff will be 2.30 and your support would be much appreciated.

“Come on You Okes!”