Rugby: 16 tries for rampant Okehampton

Report from Toby Daniel - Okehampton RFC

Okehampton 104pts St Ives 3

In these times of economic hardship, value for money can still be found at the Showground where each try on Saturday would have cost the princely sum of twenty five pence! That's because there were 16 of them on offer, as the rampant Okes achieved their biggest ever league victory as they demolished the hapless Hakes. There were some fabulous tries from all parts of the pitch as Oke demonstrated fine handling, support play, and running angles, to tear apart a side that they had only defeated by three points in the corresponding away fixture earlier in the season.

On a dry but brisk afternoon, Oke opened their account up the slope within the first few minutes, as centre Luke Honeychurch gathered a loose ball and scooted up the right touchline for the first try. Fly half Kevin Dennis converted. The second was in the bag soon after, as returning centre Gareth Espin picked a great line to take a short pop pass and cross for the first of his five tries. Kevin Dennis soon added another after good handling from his brother Craig, who supplied the scoring pass.

St Ives were failing to find touch with increasing regularity and from another loose kick, full back Matt Dennis, who had a fine counter attacking match, made the initial break and linked with the potent Espin who strolled over for his second score. Once more converted by Kevin Dennis. Next it was the pack's turn to show their worth as they bulldozed the St Ives eight at a five meter scrum. As it collapsed, the ref had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try which Kevin Dennis converted. The bonus point for four tries was already achieved within the opening quarter of the match.

The crowd were lapping up the entertainment as the tries kept coming. An astute kick ahead from scrum half Gary Sizmur saw Gareth Espin gather the bouncing ball, then stride over for his hat trick with less than half an hour of the match gone. Winger Craig Dennis converted with aplomb from the right touchline. Remarkably it was Espin with his fourth try that followed soon after; again full back Matt Dennis the architect with a delicious counter from within his own twenty two.

The last score of an amazing first forty came via fly half Kevin Dennis, who got his second score demonstrating a good hand off as he powered up the blind side for the try that brought up the half century of points as half time arrived.

The second half started as the first finished, with a home try. This time it was young winger Craig Dennis who crossed after more good back play. Quickly followed by scrum half Gary Sizmur, who popped up for his first score, Kevin Dennis converting. The procession continued with a pushover try from replacement Number eight Steve Alford, again Kev Dennis added the extras.

Then came St Ives best period as they began to retain a bit of possession. They entered Oke's half, and stand off Ninnes struck a sweet drop goal to at least put the visitors on the board. However, 66 points adrift, it mattered little, and only prompted Oke to recommence their onslaught. Espin crossed for his fifth try after being set up nicely by Tom Mcgratton, then the outstanding Neil Perrott got a well deserved try after a tireless performance. Kevin Dennis slotting the conversion.

Non-stop flanker Simon Cox was the next to cross the whitewash, as he finished off a sublime end to end move under the posts to take the score into the nineties with another Kev Dennis conversion.

The crowd were now on edge as they anticipated a possible ton of points in the remaining few minutes. A blind side break off a set scrum by Mcgratton created try number two for the supporting Cox, Kev Dennis taking the score to 97-3. Then straight from the kick off, with the last move of the match, Oke again showed superb handling and offloads, to go the full length for a delighted Gary Sizmur to cross under the uprights to beak the 100 point barrier. Kev Dennis again converted and the final whistle went to round off an afternoon of rugby, the likes of which have never been seen before at the showground.

Admittedly St Ives have struggled away from home this season, but the home side showed just what they are capable of with the pace they have throughout the side. Hopefully this will set the Okes up nicely for next week's away fixture against a Tiverton side on an upward curve, as they fight to avoid relegation.

Pictures of many of the tries here