Sat 23 Nov 2019
OKEHAMPTON 23 WESTON SUPER MARE 20
report by Chris Heath
Weston travelled to Devon for an encounter with Okehampton knowing that they were in for a battle as the hosts had a proud unbeaten home record to preserve.
A high tackle by Weston in the fourth minute gave Okehampton an easy three points and that was how it remained until the twenty fifth minute when the hosts increased their lead with a bizarre try aided and abetted by some comical defensive attempts by the visitors which saw the ball bobbling around and not being secured before the hosts took advantage and crossed for a score.
The conversion was missed and straight from the kick off Weston hit back when some superb handling by both forwards and backs ended with number eight Brad Talbot adding to his tally.
Full back George Chapman converted to put Weston one point behind but Okehampton added another penalty soon after centre Huw Morgan had been sin binned.
Chapman again cut the lead following a series of penalties against the home team. Weston then spent the rest of the half on the attack.
Right wing Alex Howman was held up over the line. There then followed a series of scrums which resulted in penalties but despite the rising tally it was still fifteen v fifteen.
Weston eventually made the pressure tell with a pushover try dabbed down by Talbot and with Chapman adding the extras it was Weston who headed for the sheds six points to the good.
Weston had chances at the start of the second half with some excellent play but a couple of errors ended with Okehampton flying down the other end of the pitch to put their right wing in at the corner. The game was once again down to one point.
Persistent infringements again by the home side enabled Chapman to put Weston four points to the good but in a grand slam finish Okehampton looked as though they may have snuck it but a try saving tackle by Howman prévented a score before Weston instead of booting the ball to safety inexplicable tried to run it out of their own twenty metre area.
With echos of an earlier away trip to Camborne they had not learnt their lesson.
Instead of being further up the pitch Weston ended with a line out on their five metre line which was stolen by the home side and with Weston committing an illegal act on the line the referee decided to award a penalty try to give a Okehampton a three point victory.
A very frustrating afternoon then in which Weston were the better side for long periods despite the hosts dangerous looking backs.
However to win these tight games correct decisions have to be made at the right times.
Throughout this season in both victory and defeat Weston in most games have generally looked the superior side but they must improve their game management in order to remain in contention for promotion.
