Results and Reports 1st April 2007
Under 16's
St. Ives 26 Northampton Old Scouts 12
Against a strong Northampton Old Scouts side this was a hard fought and well deserved win for St Ives. Both sides were missing regular players due to the Easter holidays, but the difference in game plans was apparent from the off. OS's big, strong pack drove well from the kick off, but when finally releasing the ball to the awaiting backs, the attack was snuffed out by eager St Ives defence.
St Ives scrum was also under some pressure, but a loss of the strike turned to a blessing in disguise, when Ali Geddes harried the OS scrum half into a mistake at the base. Man-of-the-match David Baker swooped to collect, releasing Adam Buttigieg, whose well timed pass put Matt Nice in under the posts. Dan Breed added the conversion.
From the kick off St Ives' forwards secured good ball and released the backs once more. Running from deep, theball sped through the hands, releasing stand-in full back James Wood who sprinted 60 metres to score a superb team try. He rounded the defence and went under the posts enabling Breed to slot another conversion.
Back came, OS. A good lineout ball, and some relaxation in defence by St Ives, allowed OS to eventually release the left wing who score in the corner.
There followed an even spell with both sides spurning decent opportunities, the strong wind not aiding handling. However, just before half time, Dan Breed made a searing break and touched down for a fine individual score. Nice added the extras.
Turning to face the wind in the second half, things could not have started worse for St Ives. Losing Tom Dowding to a back strain led to uncontested scrums, but even that was compounded by a loose pass from St Ives possession bouncing straight into the arms of the following OS stand off, who scampered away to score a converted try under the posts.
Much of the rest of the match was played in St Ives' territory. Baker continued to be the man spoiler and his defence saved St Ives on more than one occasion. OS thought they would be able to save the game until St Ives moved the ball wide quickly under their own posts releasing Wood once more. He sprinted nearly the length of the field to score the clinching try.
OS spent the final few mnutes camped on the St Ives line, but could not gain a consolation score against a spirited St Ives side.