Results and Reports 2nd October 2005
St. Ives junior section opened their season with sides playing throughout the county on Sunday. The under 13s and under 14s took part in the Cambs County Cup at Shelford RFC and despite neither side progressing from their respective pools gained valuable early season match experience.
Bedford U7s Tournament
On a fabulous autumn day at Bedford Athletic RUFC, St. Ives under 7s participated in their first tournament and with a squad of 15 acquitted themselves very well.
St. Ives 2 v 6 Tring
In the first match St. Ives came up against a well organised Tring side that ran out winners by 6 tries to 2. There were, however, some very good performances by the novice St. Ives team, with William Rolt and Thomas Johnson scoring two excellent tries, with sterling support and defence from the rest of the team (HT: 2 – 4).
With a change of team for the second half there was some good attacking from St. Ives but they just couldn’t break through, although there were a couple of good runs from Tommy McCarthy he just stepped into touch. The defence was solid with good tagging from all.
St. Ives 5 v 2 Bedford ‘A’
The second match of the tournament proved more fruitful for the plucky St. Ives team, with a sparkling run from Sam Tuckwood giving them the first score of the game. Although Bedford equalised St. Ives seemed to hold the upper hand and following some good runs from Thomas Johnson and some good support play Harry Spittle charged over to put St. Ives back in the lead. (HT: 2 – 1).
Again the team was changed at half-time, this time Simon Carter burst through a gap to increase the lead, this was then further increased when Tommy McCarthy sprinted down the blind-side. After further good support play following some solid Bedford defending, good runs from Flynn Kennedy and Oliver Naylor, Simon Carter found himself in the clear to charge over the line again. As the game came to a conclusion there was some good tagging from Tommy and Simon.
St. Ives 1 v 6 Old Albanians
In the final group game St. Ives came up against a big Old Albanians team who dominated the game from the start. In the first half there were some good runs from William Rolt, Tommy McCarthy and Charlie Bowen, stout defending was required with all the players contributing to some very good tagging. (HT: 0 – 2).
With the change of side for the second half St. Ives were hoping for things to improve, this was not to be the case. More defending was required with all and sundry manning the defences. Towards the end of the game Daniel Purver launched a good run, and with some excellent support play Harry Spittle passed on to William Hirons who managed to squirm his way to line for a consolation try.
St. Ives 3 v 4 St. Neots
As the final group position was third, St. Ives found themselves in the semi-final of the plate confirmation where they came up against St. Neots. In a very tight and tense affair St. Ives suddenly found themselves 2 – nil down despite some excellent running from Thomas Johnson where, had he managed to stay on the field of play the score could have been very different, although the same could have been said for St. Neots but for some fine tagging from William Hirons and Daniel Purver. St. Ives finally managed to breach the St. Neots line after a run from Harry Spittle. (HT: 1 – 2)
The second half change over seemed to be working as William Rolt scored direct from the restart, bringing the scores level. Despite dominating the half where St. Ives should have scored three further tries – Tommy McCarthy twice ran through the ‘in-goal’ area, and Flynn Kennedy just failed to ground the ball – St. Ives found themselves 4 – 2 down with very little time left, and although William Rolt squeezed over in the corner there was not quite enough time to mount a comeback.
All in all the U7s had a great day out and impressed the watching parents with their enthusiasm and spirit. Well done guys!
Pictures from the event are available here
Under 12s
In the first game of the season St Ives travelled to Shelford for the Cambs Cup and were placed in a tough group. Their first game against Newmarket produced a good performance from both sides with St Ives eventual winners 15 - 5, tries coming from Dan Malem x 2 and Angus Hughes.
The boys then struggled against a big Peterborough pack losing by only a single try.
In the final game St Ives were completely outclassed and out played by a well drilled Cambridge side. Cambridge used their backs effectively running in two tries early on, final score 10 - 0 to Cambridge.
Under 15s
Newmarket 34 - St. Ives 5
In a disappointing start to the season, the St Ives XV was taught a lesson in counter attacking by a lively Newmarket side. The visitors began brightly enough and attacked from the kick off, but loose hands offered the ball up to the eager Newmarket backs who scampered away to score. Matters worsened immediately when, following a good restart, St Ives fell off some tackles, enabling Newmarket to score again. Feeling very confident, Newmarket once again ran well in support of each other for a third try.
With the game only 10 minutes old, St Ives had a mountain to climb, but the forwards raised their effort and produced some excellent possession. Unfortunately, St Ives usually incisive back play deserted them and a series of drops and blind alley running kept hem scoreless until Matt Nice finally managed to break though for a deserved score.
There then followed a period of sustained pressure in the Newmarket half both before and after half time when St Ives forwards played superbly in the loose, only for scoring chances to go begging. With only a few minutes remaining, St Ives began to tire, and three counter attacks from St Ives kicks led to tries. David Baker was nominated St Ives' man of the match after an excellent game at scrum half. The forwards were left ruing what might have been.