CITY side OPMs grabbed their first point of the season against Exeter Saracens – but it is clear the Elburton-based side are still a work in progress.
OPMs enjoyed most of the possession in both halves against a side who had lost their opening two games, but in the first period at least demonstrated they would have had trouble hitting a barn door with a bazooka.
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Chances were squandered in the opening 40 minutes by the home side, allowing Sarries to feed off their hosts’ mistakes – and there were a substantial number – and open up a 14-0 lead by the break.
Assistant head coach Steve Luffman asked his players what the hell they thought they were doing during the interval and OPMs responded with a second-half fightback which deserved more than a losing bonus point.
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Number 10 Jake Luffman opened up Sarries’ defence with a kick out right which took several deflections before wing Mark Beresford-Ward won the footrace to reach a ball bobbling invitingly in the visitors’ try zone.
Full-back Tom Finnie missed the conversion, although his time was to come right on the final whistle. Meanwhile, Sarries used their mobility in their backs to score a third try to apparently leave OPMs flailing 19-5 behind.
The city side thought they were back in it twice more before they actually scored.
Two tries were chalked off – the first one in definitely dubious circumstances – as OPMs pressed their wilting opponents.
Their persistence paid off right on the final whistle when Luffman – that’s the one on the field – was set up for a short plunge over Sarries’ try-line by probably the most effective player on the field, forward Adam Geogeghan.
The last play of the game saw Finnie, who had missed a couple of attempts from a similar position, nail his conversion kick right between the Exeter posts to give his side a deserved point.
Assistant coach Luffman refused afterwards to get flustered over the undeniable fact that his side have lost their three opening league matches.
“It is getting better,” said Luffman, who enjoyed OPMs’ second-half showing far better than he did the first. “The team is gelling together and are a lot fitter than they were.
“Remember, we were in this position at the beginning of last season and we finished fifth.
“We had so much of the possession, but couldn’t take our chance, while Exeter had maybe five – most of them off our mistakes – and scored three of them.
“That was the difference.”
HIGH-FLYING Saltash crashed and burned against a classy Exeter University side who should be playing Western Counties West rugby next season.
Head coach Nick Skinnard said: “Exeter University are a good team with no weaknesses and they paid us the compliment of putting out their very best side for the game. Nothing they did was rocket science, but they played to the sort of standard that I hope my players will aspire to.”
Saltash at least got on the scoreboard, thanks to a Max Venables penalty.
Article source: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-star-richard-hibbard-urges-6066722
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