Ivybridge still looking for their first win

IVYBRIDGE are still looking for their first league win of the season in South West One after going down 34-30 at Okehampton.

- CONNRAD SUTCLIFFE

Neither side had won a game going into round four of an early season basement battle. Something had to give.

Okehampton were always ahead in the game, but never far enough ahead for long enough to feel truly comfortable.

Every time Okehampton pulled away they were hauled back by the Bridge, who set-up a nail-gnawing finish with a late score from Kain Morgan that left less than a score in it. That was how it stayed.

Davy McGregor, the head coach at Ivybridge, said it is proving hard to break a losing habit that pre-dates his appointment to the post.

“When you are used to winning you find ways to win – and when you are not you find way to lose,” said McGregor.

“We gave away three soft tries – all of them converted – and that is 21 points.

“Our is a young side – average age 22-23 – in a division with lots of experienced teams and players. We are still learning game management and developing a bit of maturity.”

McGregor said Ivybridge’s determination to stay in the game was among the positive take-aways for him.

“Another was that we scored 30 points away from home again,” he added, referring to the 34-32 dingdong at Lydney last time out on the road.

Okehampton took an early lead they never lost when full-back Luke Simmons popped over a penalty. Matt Coles, a prop recently recruited from Torrington, rumbled over for a try that Simmons converted for a 10-0 lead.

Back came Ivybridge with a Sam Furse try that Sam Brown converted for 10-7.

Okehampton opened-up a 10-point lead when Leon Horn scooped-up a kick ahead and kept going to the try line. Simmons converted for 17-7 at the break.