Rugby round-up from the region

Okehampton needed to cheer themselves up from a home league defeat at the hands of Devonport Services, but they could hardly have expected to do it in such dramatic circumstances against Ivybridge in the first round of Devon Senior Cup matches.

In a see-saw contest at Oaklands Park, the Okes seemed to have everything under control when they led 21-6 at one stage, with tries by player-coach Matt Tichias, Ryan Lee and man-of-the-match Saul Holliday and conversions from Dan Fogerty.

But, with Tichias retiring from the action, Regional One rivals Ivybridge came storming back and took a 27-21 lead in the closing stages.

It was only a late try by Ryan Bolt, crucially converted by Fogerty, which snatched a 28-27 victory for Okehampton.

That should send them off to bottom of the table Drybrook this weekend in better spirits.

Crediton's tie at Devonport Services has been put back to November 19.

Several clubs fielded changed sides, on the first weekend 'break' from league action, and Tiverton were another team to stage a spirited fightback.

Divisional rivals Topsham are in good form at the moment and things looked ominous for Tivvy when they conceded 28 unanswered points in the first half-hour at the Bonfire Field.

But Jon Hill's men weren't quite done. Topsham didn't score another point, and Tivvy fought back to 28-19 in the second half.

It's back to Tribute SW League action this Saturday, and Crediton take a two-point lead at the top of Regional Two to mid-table Newton Abbot.

In Counties One, Bideford head down to Torbay to take on Paignton, while Tiverton go West to Bude with high hopes of closing the gap on Cullompton, Topsham and Kingsbridge above them.

Saturday's local fixtures include: Regional One SW - Drybrook v Okehampton; Regional Two SW - Newton Abbot v Crediton; Counties One WW - Paignton v Bideford II, Bude v Tiverton, Falmouth v Wiveliscombe, Penryn v Topsham; Counties Two Devon - Honiton v Exeter Saracens, North Tawton v Barnstaple II, South Molton v Ivybridge II; Counties Three Devon E - Cullompton II v Crediton II, New Cross v Tiverton II.