After a stellar season , the 2oos travelled to Barnstaple for their penultimate game of the season that was in effect a defining event . Win , and the Devon Merit Table 1 title was theirs . Lose and it would all come down to a last day encounter against Exmouth.

On a perfect afternoon with a flat , wide and well covered main pitch at Barum , the Okes played into the breeze in the first half and in the early minutes saw little of the ball as a tidy looking home outfit – far removed from the side beaten heavily at Okehampton, looked efficient in possession.

The Oke’s trademark defence was again to the fore keeping attacks at bay with Si Cox and George Baker making an untidy nuisance of themselves at the breakdown forcing turn over and penalties to the visitors .

A penalty took play deep into Barum territory and with the lineout won several phases took play close to the line and with ball held up , the resultant 5 metre scrum saw Jake Shin plunder the opening score after the scrum option was applied following a penalty from the first attempt with Captain Sizmur converting .

The Okes maintained the pressure from the restart and minutes later Sizmur was extending the lead with a 3 pointer.

In addition to the loyal and reliable band that have served the 2oos so well all season , the Okes were also able to benefit from several lads on Easter breaks from a variety of Early Learning Centres with scrum half Tom Fogerty, Liam Sampson and Lewis Taylor making telling contributions . The Okes second try came from a line out steal from Sampson who proceeded to gallop from inside his own half deep into the home 22 ,and after efficient recycling and phases , the ever dependable Alex Slater providing the finishing touch for Sizmur to again convert.

At this point the Okes were looking comfortable and in cruise control but you wouldn’t expect a Barum side to roll over and with a stubborn and determined captain leading by example they responded accordingly with the afore mentioned exposing the folly of trying to tackle a big bit o’beef by the shirt by barging his way over the stripe dragging a number of Maroon and ambers with him .

With half time approaching and with the North Devon outfit starting to get on the front foot , a timely turnover in mid field saw rapid progress up field with the again impressive Dan Fogerty showing some impressive footwork to baffle the defence for an excellent and well worked score. Sizmur was again on the money for the extras. This turned out to be an important score as it appeared to dampen the spirits of the men in Red for the early part of the second half and after no more than a few minutes from the restart some excellent interplay and well worked back play took the pressure close to the Barum line . Defensive resolve kept the visitors at bay for a while but an excellent switch of play saw the overlap created for the evergreen John Short to go over in the corner for what Ref assessor Tim Rice claim after the game as the best bit of 2nd XV rugby he had seen all season . Always knew Tim knew what he was talking about !!

The next score was arguably the most deserved of the season when Steve “the Gover” Gove bundled his way over having already made a number of trade mark charges throughout the game . Steve’s contribution to all things 2oos this season has been a major contribution to the success of the side .

At this point , with a few injuries starting to kick in together with the bench being emptied and Barnstable calling in the Calvary in the form of some tasty looking individuals , the game swung towards the home side who then proceeded to rattle in 3 tries before more determined defence allowed Rhys Palmer , doing his stint with the 2oos after returning from a couple of weeks in the naughty boy’s room, intercepted to gallop half the length of the pitch for the final score for Sam Ewens to hoof the final points.

Minutes later the final whistle went to signal the celebration of the Okes winning Devon Merit Table 1 . With 4 teams in the table of National League standing , this is a terrific achievement for the lads . Gary Sizmur and
Steve Gove , ably backed up by other senior players such as club Captain Tom Powell and Richard Drake have created a great team spirit among the group which has created a great atmosphere where players are more than willing to put best foot forward for the 2oos should they not be in the 1st xv . This has created a strength in depth mantra that benefits the whole playing side of the club and is now the envy of many of the clubs played by the 2oos as often expressed in the bar after games whether it be home or away .

Congratulations lads. You have done yourselves , the shirt and the club proud .

One last game against Exmouth this Sat to go out and enjoy and savour the moment.

ORFC 2nd XV . Devon Merit Table 1 Champions 2016 -2017 . Sound good doesn’t it !!

Okehampton RFC

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