Finishing line awaits Moorland rugby clubs

We are in the home straight of the Devon rugby season and Moorland rugby clubs have a range of challenges ahead.

Sitting in the comfort zone of mid-table in the Regional 2 Tribute SW Division, Okehampton cruised to a powerful 42-14 victory over bottom club Truro on a sunny spring afternoon.

Playing up the slope in the first period, the Okes fell behind to an early score when Truro pounced on a wayward pass to cross in the corner. Okehampton quickly replied with Rob Fishleigh finishing off a slick team move.

Truro were then blown away by some impressive rugby from the home side. Saul Holliday broke the lines to create room for Brandon Horn to score under the posts, opening up a 14-7 lead, with Luke Simmons adding his second conversion of the day.

The power of prop Callum Arnold was too much for the Truro defence before Horn notched his brace to give the Okes a 28-7 lead at the break.

After half-time, Okehampton continued to control proceedings but were unable to convert their dominance into a barrage of tries. Youngster Ollie Jordan provided one exception with a neat finish in the corner.

Strangely, given the margin of their lead, poor discipline cost the Okes two men, one yellow card and Brad Curtis receiving a slightly harsh red card for a high tackle. Truro took advantage with their second score of the afternoon.

The Okes did have the final word, Simmons touching down for the last score, and they will hope for more at home to Winscombe on March 8. The league season concludes with a trip to struggling Teignmouth on March 22 and then a final day visit from runaway leaders Topsham.

The game with Teignmouth could have significant repercussions on Newton Abbot, who are currently second from bottom but level on points with the Teigns.

Ivybridge remain bottom of the Regional 1 Tribute SW Division, despite an excellent battling display. The Ivies eventually went down to an entertaining 35-50 defeat but can take heart from their performance into the remaining fixtures with Marlborough (H), Lydney (A) and Matson (H).

There is an enthralling race for the title and promotion in this division, with Brixham just one point ahead of Barnstaple as we head into the final three fixtures, and only one team can go up!

It has been a rough campaign for Tavistock in the Counties 1 Western West Division, with only the glum form of Bideford keeping Tavi off the bottom, but Saturday’s painful 72-12 loss at Penryn, another side languishing at the wrong end of the table, was particularly tough to take. Liam Watts and Martin Budden scored the Tavistock tries.