Rugby: Okehampton sink in Truro mud

Report from Toby Daniel, Okehampton RFC

Truro 10pts Okehampton 3

The atrocious weather meant this was one of few games to take place this weekend. However, the conditions ensured a game lacking in quality or excitement resulted. Oke gained a losing bonus point but will be disappointed in their overall performance.

The first twenty minutes was Okes' best spell. They started brightly and really should have built up a decent lead. With the slight slope, they pressured the home defence into errors, and with advantage up front, they were thwarted several times close in by illegal tactics at scrum time that went badly unpunished. In fact, all the Okes dominance in this period just brought a three point lead from the boot of fly half Carl Poynton. Unfortunately it was the only success the stand off had from five attempts in difficult conditions.

As is so often the case; straight from the restart Oke gathered cleanly, but again no one took responsibility to put in the clearance kick that the weather, and pitch position demanded. Truro gleefully pounced on this error as Oke tried to run the ball from their own twenty. A spell of pressure ensued which ended with an equalising kick from home stand off Jake Champion. The rest of the half was even as play became bogged down in the torrential rain, and mud bound surface.

Oke turned around level but knew they had not gleaned enough points whilst they were on top. Despite their scrum superiority, Oke were having a torrid time at the lineout and were often put on the back foot by some astute tactical kicking from experienced ex Redruth scrum half Mark Richards. The mud now also created difficulties differentiating between the two sides, and with numerous decisions going against the Okes, they found themselves defending a close range line out. After several charges were defended, eventually home hooker Milliner crossed for a try that was converted by Champion for a seven point lead.

Oke made changes in an effort to up their game. Little impact was made though as play seemed entrenched in midfield for long periods. Oke tried to slot penalties and failed, and their backs were virtual spectators in attack as the conditions put paid to any hope of open rugby.

Truro were determined to wrap up the win and kept effectively driving at the Okes fringe defence. Oke managed to hold on for a losing bonus point in defeat though, about the only positive that came from their afternoons efforts. The young side will hopefully learn form this experience though as weather and tough away fixtures will undoubtedly arise again before the season's climax.

Next week sees a break for the first team who return to league action in a fortnight's time with a tasty home match against old rivals Bideford, another side competing with the Okes in the upper echelons of Western Counties West. KO 2.30pm