1sts-Defence and discipline issues as Okes lose rearranged fixture..

Oke commenced up the slope and into a decent breeze. Early signs were promising as they took the game to their Gloucester based visitors. However the hosts were unable to maintain this form as three yellow cards, three injuries and an untypically fragile home defence saw the game steadily slip from their grasp.

Despite Okes initial flourish, it was the visitors who opened the scoring in the bottom right corner after Okes were unable to repel a forward rumble, followed by a dart through the Okes fringe defence. Both sides were keen to move the ball, but it soon backfired for Cents as they spilled the ball in midfield before Okes centre Brandon Horn gleefully scooped up the scraps to run in for Okes first five pointer. Soon turned into seven via a Dan Fogerty conversion. At the 25 minute mark, and leading against the elements, Okes were well situated. However that all swiftly ended as things started to unravel. Throughout the match the visitors competed fiercely at ruck time and disrupted or slowed Okes ball as a consequence. The hosts were unable to replicate this,so as a result the visitors had time and space when in possession and took full advantage. Their second try came on 26 minutes, followed by the first of Okes yellow cards as Brandon Horn was sent to the bench. The visitors struck soon via another close range forward foray and the conversion made it 17-7.

Still not an unassailable lead as half time approached, but Okes indiscipline saw another penalty pumped into the corner right on the break. Once again the hosts were incapable of preventing the visitors powering over for their bonus point fourth try, right on the interval. So turning around 22-7 behind all was not lost, but the Okes needed a much improved second forty.

Initial signs were good when Okes forced an early penalty. Dan Fog's effort bounce back off the uprights though, the chase was not present though and the chance was gone. Then on fifty minutes it looked like the Okes had worked themselves right back into the contest. An excellent scrum on opposition ball saw the home eight drive the Cents back of their own ball. Oke number eight Joe Mawle picked up and made good ground before offloading to the supporting Leon Horn. The prolific left winger dashing in under the posts for Okes second try. Fogerty converted and at 22-14 it was within Okes grasp.

Joy soon turned to despair though as the Oke skipper almost immediately saw yellow for an adjudged deliberate knock on. He was soon followed by Prop Nicky Martin as Okes continued to infringe as they defended desperately. Now down to 13 it was only a matter of time until the pressure told and on 55 minutes another close range rumble and conversion saw the score stretched to 29-14. Losing hooker Jake Shin, flanker Jack Ogbourne and prop Pat Nash to injury didn't help Okes cause either. The hosts held out for the next quarter but failed to threaten a score of their own. Then on 75 minutes the visitors scored a far too simple try off the back of a lineout and subsequent maul, completing their afternoon's scoring as the Okes fringe defence went AWOL.

Now 36-14 down Okes finally strung several phases together as they sought a consolation score. A few decent passages of interplay took Oke into the Cents twenty two and when Joe Mawle cut a nice line off a flat midfield pass, he cruised over for the Okes third try of the match. Dan Fogerty converted but when the final whistle arrived soon after, the Okes were left without even a point for their efforts.

The Oke's previous home form, in what has been a testing campaign, has been encouraging. However this was hopefully just a bad day at the office for this young, developing Maroon and Amber outfit. The home set scrum was one of few comforts and the hosts have plenty to work on in training this week ahead of a trip to Bristol based Old Reds next Saturday. KO 2.30 PM... "Come On You Okes!'