Sat 13 Jan 2024
For the second year in a row the match, at The Showground, came down to the last kick and yet again it was Okehampton who prevailed and completed the double over the CABs. This time it was Okehampton's 10 that landed a pretty tough kick to snatch victory and give Okehampton a much needed win and in all likelihood put an end to the very outside chance of the CABs pushing for top spot.
The CABs playing down the slope started off like a steam train with hard running from every forward and slick play by the backs. There was no contest at set piece with the CABs showing why each team is at either end of the table and it wasn';t long before Ethan Pearce Crowly powered over. Unfortunately Glenn Coles (in the absence of Dan Pearce) couldn't add the extras and an early 0-5 lead was justified. However, Oke struck back immediately a dropped ball at kick-receipt gave OKe the ball and several phases later the Oke 12 cut a lovely line to go under the posts and the lead changed hands (7-5). The CABs pack was now really establishing dominance in scrum and lineout, with penalities coming on a regular basis at scrum time and Okehampton having every lineout stolen or disrupted. A Coles penalty re-established the lead and the CABs set about taking full advantage of the slope and their power. Scores by Albert Horne and Brandon Rowley pushed the CABs into a healthy lead and it was very much looking like how many the CABs would continue to put on the scoreboard. However, a straighforward missed penalty, a not straight lineout throw, on the Oke line and some lenient officiating when the CABs scrum was camped on the Oke line meant that the lead was 10-23 at half-time. this meant that Okehampton were still in the fight & as every CABs player knows, especially when it comes to this derby game, they would come out and really force the game. The focus at half-time was to continue to be direct and keep the ball in hand so as to qwell any momentum that Okehampton would build up.
As expected Okehampton did up their tempo and game and set about closing the gap. Okehampton were keeping the ball in play, to avoid CABs having the lineout, and forcing the CABs to suppoort their back three. Some fine play resulted in Okehampton working a good try down the blindside and the game was now 17-23. A Coles penalty put the lead back to 9 and then OKe struck with 2 tries and game was now in OKe's favour (27-26). But the CABS forced their way upfield and some infringements gave the CABs a 5m lineout. A clean catch and drive, supported by most of the backs and the ball was forced over the line. However, the referee wasn;t certain that the ball was grounded. However, a lineout penalty gave the CABs the opportunity to scrum and go for the pushover; again Oke managed to ride their fortune when the pack was heading towards the line and they managed to hold on. However, with just under three minutes on the clock the CABs opted for an easy penalty and take the lead (27-29). It was now about seeing out the last two minutes and a bit and now concede possession nor give away a breakdown penalty and they nearly succeeded. However, a penalty for supoort player going to ground gave the Okehampton 10 the chance to win the game and fair play he nailed it.
A super local derby and a gutsy display by Okehampton. For the CABs it is chance to really appreciate how when you have team right there for the taking you have to make sure that you take the game fully away from them, so there is no last kick play.
