OKEHAMPTON gave Tiverton a run for their money before going down 22-13 to early front runners Tiverton on the Bolham Road ground.

Although Tiverton were 12-0 up at halftime, they were never far enough ahead to feel truly comfortable.

Had Okehampton kicker Luke Simmons been a little more accurate – he missed two conversions and two penalties – the outcome could have been different.

Alex Curtis and Ben Bingham found a way over the Okehampton line. Henry Sellick converted the former.

Okehampton cut the leeway from the second-half restart kick with a corner try for Greg Alford.

Sellick converted a Tom Stevens try to give Tiverton some breathing space, but not for long.

Okehampton’s Tom McGrattan scored an opportunist try after a Tiverton kick was charged down. Simmons did not make the conversion, but did add a penalty to leave six points in it.

And that’s how it stayed until Sellick’s ‘killer’ penalty with two minutes to go.

“The choice was kick for touch and go for a possible fourth try and a bonus point, or kill the game off,” said Tiverton coach Jon Hill. “We killed the game off.”

Missing out on a four-try bonus point – they only scored three – means Tiverton have surrendered their share of top spot. Crediton and Topsham are the current joint leaders.

Okehampton are back at the Showground this Saturday for an appointment with Wellington.