Rugby: Okehampton set up local derby cup final

Report from Toby Daniels - Okehampton RFC

Glorious sunshine welcomed the players as these local rivals Okehampton & Tavistock came together for an end of season league and cup double header at the Showground. The league aspect of the game meant little for either side but the reward of a cup final meant there was still plenty to play for.

Oke started very nervously and Tavistock, playing uphill but with a wind advantage, soon imposed themselves on the hosts upfront. The visitors turned over Oke possession at the first four breakdowns and the home side were unable to glean much clean ball to feed their previously potent backline. Tavy were rewarded for their early endeavours when fly half West struck an early penalty for a three point lead.

Oke then entered Tavy territory and were soon able to create an opening of their own when clean ball from a ruck allowed the ball to be shipped blind where winger Luke Honeychurch was sent away on the overlap and he crossed unopposed for the game’s first try. The conversion was missed as was to be the case with several other first half penalty awards, as a combination of the strong wind and the uprights defied the Okes. Tavy were thriving on Oke’s numerous errors and lack of urgency and they soon regained the lead with another straightforward West penalty. The home crowd were now becoming restless, although home Fly half Mark Scrivener offered a brief respite as he struck over a penalty to give the Okes and 8-6 lead at the interval.

The second period commenced, and seemed to be following the same pattern as the first as Oke failed to free their backs and Tavistock continued to enjoy decent amounts of possession. It was they who struck next as a midfield scrum allowed sufficient space down the right for scrum half Moy to snipe elusively from the base and cross under the posts for a seven piointer to restore the visitors advantage.

Slowly but surely Oke started to up the tempo. Substitutions added impetus and Tavy were forced to infringe to slow the pace of the game. Home fly half Scrivener began to find his range and successful penalties snatched back the lead for the hosts. A Tavistock defender was binned for not rolling away and Oke had a period in the ascendancy. The home side were still not fully firing but their ongoing good spell enabled Scrivener to pot over two more penalties to give them a seven point lead. Tavy refused to lie down though, and with only a converted score as the difference it was far from clear cut entering the dying stages. With time drifting away the home side were awarded yet another kickable penalty, the ref indicated that time was up so Oke decided against going for posts and booted the ball into touch to ensure victory.

As firm pitched matches go, this was far from a free flowing classic. Perhaps it was the cup nature of the game that created an amount of hesitancy. However it was still a hard fought encounter and Tavistock will be pleased with the way their pack fronted up and created numerous turnovers. Oke will be happy with another W in the result column though, and have the reward of a home cup final against another set of local adversaries in the shape of Crediton to look forward to.

With the actual cup final date yet to be finalised, keep any eye on the ORFC website for full match details.

Pictures of the game here