Okehampton vs Penzance & Newlyn – Match Report

A Narrow Away Defeat for Penzance & Newlyn

By Phil Westren

Okehampton 21 – Penzance & Newlyn 18

Travelling on Saturday to Okehampton’s ‘Showground’ home, the Pirates expected a tough examination on Devon soil. To a degree that is how it worked out, but they should also feel a level of satisfaction in that they pushed ‘The Okes’ so close.

In what was a toughly fought contest throughout, Okehampton held a 14-6 lead before the Pirates hit back to narrow the deficit to make it 14-13 at the break. Pirates’ man of the match fly-half Rhys Brownfield had kicked two penalties before adding a try and a conversion, and even though a converted try saw the Devon side extend their lead in the second half to 21-13, it was then a try from Pirates prop Ben Taylor that kept it interesting right to the final whistle.

A single losing bonus point was the least the travelling side deserved, whilst they remain seventh in Regional 2 South West and Okehampton move up to second.

Speaking after the game, Pirates’ head coach Murray Westren said:

“This was a genuinely close game between two even and good sides. It was highly physical, and the lads gave their all, but achieving a win just wasn’t to be.”

Okehampton:   15 Robert Fishleigh 14 Oscar Bridger 13 Brandon Horn 12 Marley Wade-Parker 11 Mikey Stevens 10 Luke Simmons 9 Ollie Wonnacott; 1 Dan Butt 2 Jack Rutley 3 Tom White 4 Brad Curtis 5 Sonny Luxton 6 Jack Ogborne 7 Alex Cross 8 Tom McGrattan.

Replacements:   16 Charlie Carr 17 Will Holland 18 Roman Alford.    

Penzance & Newlyn:   15 Ben Wragg 14 Jack Keogh 13 Harris Eddy 12 Oscar Marr 11 Cal Gardner 10 Rhys Brownfield 9 Ben Durrant; 1 Ben Taylor 2 Wes Eddy 3 Joe Best 4 Ben Martin 5 Nick Nowell 6 Tom Hutton 7 Sam Carroll 8 Stan Somers (captain).

Replacements: 16 Dec Prowse 17 Jamie Eddy 18 Harvey Stone.

📷Rhys Brownfield receiving his Man of the Match award from Andrew Snell