IT’S very rare that you lose by a point in a game of rugby, but that has been the case for Launceston three times in the last four weeks following Saturday’s agonising reversal at neighbours Okehampton in Regional One South West.

In a wonderful advert for Step Five which was played in front of a passionate, large crowd, Oke, battling for their lives, had the slope in their favour in the first half and led 17-5.

Dan Fogerty added a third home try early in the second half to extend the lead, but the game turned in the 51st minute as home prop Tom White was sent-off for a second yellow card and Adam Collings scored from the resulting scrum.

Although Fogerty added a penalty to make it 25-12, Dan Pearce pulled one back to set up a grandstand final 15 minutes.

Just as it looked like the hosts would somehow hold on, George Bone went over in the last play game to leave Pearce needing to slot the conversion to win it.

However his effort at goal agonisingly hit the post and came back down to leave Oke 25-24 winners.

See this week’s Post for a full report from The Showground.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Launceston Seconds – better known as the Castles – were awarded five points in Counties Cornwall Three as St Agnes conceded their clash at Polson Bridge.