NEW Cross RFC coach Jerry Wotton took a swipe at the RFU rules and regulations that allowed Okehampton to boost their 2nd XV with first-team regulars for a game with nothing on it.

New Cross were surprised to see Devon captain Tom McGrattan, and seven other members of the Okehampton 1st XV that played a South West Two promotion play-off game seven days earlier, run out against them.

The Kingsteignton side kept the scoring to manageable proportions for the first 60 minutes and had Luke Williams, Rob Pedrick and Josh Davey cross for tries with two Nick Halse conversions.

After that, Okehampton managed to find gaps that their quick outside backs exploited well to take the game well beyond the home side.

Said Wotton: “A disappointing end to an indifferent season with a bad taste left in the mouth.

“Not for the first time this season, second teams have dropped firsts players in and not just against ourselves.

“It is a problem that really should be looked at with some sensible rules put in place to stop it happening but I can’t see the big clubs letting that happen.

“It’s things like this that make it difficult to raise a team at our level and I know a lot of the other one-team clubs at our level feel the same.

“Either way we will back next season hopefully after finding some young speedsters over the summer.”

Wotton added he checked with league officials about the rules relating to eligibility and was told there was nothing to stop teams artificially strengthening.