Results and Reports 5th February 2006
St. Ives U8 40, Ampthill U8 45
A pulsating match of end-to-end rugby, which resulted in one of the highest scores in a Saints match this season. The two sides traded tries throughout the game, on most occasions Ampthill going one ahead and then being pegged back by a dogged Saints side. Both sides demonstrated energetic tackling, good support in attack, smooth passing skills, and full use of the flanks. Max Darer and Peter Ford each scored four tries for Saints, with a first-half hat-trick by Max and another in the second half by Peter.
Royston U8 30, St. Ives U8 20
Another splendid match, in which defensive skills were equally in evidence as attacking skills from both sides. Royston opened the scoring, only for Reuben Patrick to equalise for Saints after cutting across the field and to the line, but the hosts responded emphatically, running in three further scores without reply before half time. Saints came straight back after the restart, Max Darer making a darting run down the wing to touch down in the corner. The hosts scored once again, but Saints responded in kind, a strong build-up allowing Max to put Peter Ford through to score. Again Royston regained their lead, but Daniel Palmer scored for the visitors just before the end.
Royston U8 10, St. Ives U8 25
After so much energetic play during the morning, both sides were starting to tire; but although the play began to lose a little finesse, it was no less exciting to watch. Saints made amends for their earlier defeat by the hosts, with a third strong display. Reuben Patrick opened the scoring for Saints, but Royston responded and then took the lead, only for Reuben to pounce on a loose ball and sprint to the line to equalise. Peter Ford took the lead for the visitors with a thrilling sidestep, and then scored twice more after perceptive interceptions in open play, to clinch the victory for St. Ives.
Under 11s
St Ives 0 – Ampthill 5
On a beautiful sunny morning the St Ives team started well and immediately put pressure on the opposing side with some well-worked kicking and chasing. The Ampthill forwards however soon started to assert their superiority and out-fought St Ives in the rucking and mauling. From this platform the backs were able to mount a series of assaults on the Ives line and ultimately went over for a well-deserved try.
St Ives 20 – Royston 0
As the clouds rolled in the larger Royston pack looked like they were going to roll over the St Ives forwards. The outcome, however, was quite the opposite with first Tom Mount and then Jacob Milner scoring excellent tries with runs off breakdowns in midfiled. This aggressive forward play seemed to galvanise the backs and firstly Barney West scored with an impressive solo run, breaking several tackles and then Sam Vallance finishing off a well-worked passing move with a classic winger’s try.
Under 12s
St Ives 28 v Ampthill 21
St Ives travelled to Royston, in their first game they came up against Ampthill and St Ives got of to a terrific start with great interchange play between the backs and forwards. This pressure paid off when the forwards took command and drove Ampthill back towards their line, this pressure eventually resulted in the first try. St Ives continued applying the pressure, the ball on a number of occasions went out to the wings causing problems for the opposition. It was not long before St Ives scored again with two quick tries. The first half was finished off by a try just before the break. In the second half both teams made a number of changes and Ampthill returned the more determined scoring three quick tries. St Ives held onto the win with a number of good tackles right at the end.
Tries scored by Angus Hughes, Alex Colah x 2 & Nathan Dewar. All tries converted by Jack Topham
Royston 0 v St Ives 21
St Ives were determined from the outset, with a couple a changes the whole team started to play as a whole unit. The forwards showed their superiority by winning the first couple of scrums against the head and running the ball through the backs from deep only to be held up just short of the line, from the resulting ruck St Ives broke through to score their first try. Royston came back at us but the defence held firm, not allowing Royston the space to run. The second half was a copy of the first within a few minutes St Ives went over for their second try. The third try came from the restart Jack Topham caught the ball and drove forward and released a perfectly weighted pass to Alex Colah who ran half the length of the pitch and beat several players to score the third and final try.
Tries scored by Nathan Dewar x 2 & Alex Colah, Conversions x 3 Jack Topham
Under 14s
Wellingborough 22 - St. Ives 5
A somewhat depleted St. Ives squad made the trip to Wellingborough and were forced in to making several positional changes at the last minute. The home side set their stall out from the start and the first quarter saw the visitors defending in their twenty-two against wave after wave of attack. The defence was finally broken in a “crash-ball” move off of a taped penalty. However, Saints continued to compete and a stolen ball in midfield saw Tino Zicchi race from inside his own half to score under the posts. In the second half the home side piled on pressure and some basic mistakes and missed tackles saw three further tries conceded by St. Ives. To their credit the visitors finished with a flourish but despite tremendous effort couldn’t manage to cross the Wellingborough line gain.
Under 15s
St. Ives 15 – Deepings 49
With both sides heavily depleted by illness, special mention for Adam Thoday of St Ives, who evened up the sides by volunteering to play the entire match for the visitors. The first half was a fairly even affair, but a sign of things to come was when St Ives allowed Deepings’ centre to cut back through poor defence to score first. From stolen line out ball, Matt Nice broke through the defence to score a fine individual try for the hosts. Having got back into the game, Saint’s lack of concentration allowed the visitors to first score a converted try under the posts direct from the kick off, followed by losing a scrum against the head with the opposition scrum half sprinting to score. Not to be out done, Nice and joint man-of-the-match James Wood executed a perfect "catapult" to send Woods to the try-line. But, Deepings responded once more to make the half time score 10-22.
The second half was typified by a tired St Ives defence unable to make the crucial gain line tackles. The Deepings number 8 enjoyed some bullocking runs as the defence fell away and was involved in many scores. The home side continued to press and a superbly fashioned penalty move gave the St Ives backs the opportunity to move the ball wide, where Tom Brown completed the home sides try count by scoring in the corner. St Ives will build on the forward rucking effort for next week’s match and hope that joint man-of-the-match Dan Hyde will continue to lead and motivate from the front.