On a sticky gluepot pitch, Oke elected to play uphill into the lowering sun in the first forty. They started well, and strung together a succession of phases to show they mean business to their promotion chasing opponents. Kings are a well drilled unit, bolstered by a sizable pack, but Oke were in the ascendancy in the first quarter, and took a deserved early lead through a penalty from Carl Poynton who began the match at scrum half.

Kings appeared surprised by Oke’s early ferocity, and they were under pressure in their own twenty two when fortune turned their way for the first time in the match. The visiting full back’s clearance was half charged down, but this allowed usually offside forwards to re-join play. Oke conceded a line out due to this pressure and the South Hams side took a quick line out. The ball didn’t appear to travel the required five meters, but the ref allowed play to continue which resulted in centre Ashley Treeby crossing in the bottom left corner. The conversion was awry, but Oke found themselves 5-3 behind after twenty minutes.

To the home eights’ credit, despite being outplayed at lineouts they were giving the larger Kings pack a torrid time. Good driving around the fringes, backed up by solid defence and a dominant scrum ensured the visitors did not command possession as they had expected. In fact Oke prospered as the interval neared, and the home side once again got themselves an attacking scrum platform. Already taking two against the head Oke’s scrum was becoming a potent attacking weapon. As another set piece marched forward the ball came loose, but Oke maintained possession and attacked via a rolling maul. Eventually lock Sam Turner rolled his way over the line for a score that regained the lead for the fired up Okes. Unfortunately fly half Jordan Petherbridge was unable to add the extras, but an eight five lead at the break, after playing up the slope against the league second placed side, was no mean effort.

Kingsbridge came out for the second half knowing they would need to score next, as the conditions ensured this was to be a low scoring encounter. Their only real effective weapon of attack was their well drilled catch and drive from a lineout, and that was to be the match decider. In fact it brought the visitor’s second try, and regained them the lead, after Oke failed to stop it rumbling over from fully twenty five meters. Prolific prop Powell was the ultimate beneficiary, and with fly half Newman adding the conversion Oke found themselves four points behind.

Three quarters of the game had now elapsed and Oke were battling to regain the lead. Changes were made from the bench with increasing regularity, and they all played their part as Oke worked themselves once more into the visitor’s twenty two. A series of set scrums seemed sure to bring a score as the Oke eight advanced at haste. Two attempts were ruled out, and visiting scrum half Burner finally saw yellow for his preventative efforts. Oke even moved the ball through the middle but Gary Sizmur was deemed not to have grounded the ball when over the line. Finally, just when it seemed the score would never come, replacement Simon Cox showed good control to score from another pushover attempt, and Poynton added the conversion for good measure.

Oke had a narrow three point lead and had ten minutes to defend it. This they did well as Kings failed to break the host’s defensive shackles. Oke just had to resist the urge to conceded a penalty and allow another catch and drive. Unfortunately, with three minutes remaining they offended at a breakdown in their own half, and allowed Kings one last attempt. They piled in with virtually their whole side and Oke could not stop the momentum gained, lock Hamilton scored the decisive try and Newman converted to leave it 19-15. From the kick off the visitors sealed off the ball and killed the game off.

So a narrow and undeserved defeat for the gallant Okes. Hopefully lessons will be learned and the positives gleaned can be taken into next week’s away fixture at Bude, KO 2.30 PM.

Okehampton RFC

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