Results and Reports 19th November 2006
Under 10's
Rushden & Higham 5 - St. Ives 15
In the first of 4 matches between two enthusiastic and evenly matched squads, St. Ives won thanks to a strong defensive display. Sam Hirons put Saints into an early lead after gliding between 2 defenders to sprint clear but Rushden came back with a try of their own before half time after creating a 2 man overlap with swift ball handling. In the second half St. Ives raised their defensive game with Malcolm Maclean and Chris Radbone tackling strongly and gradually built up momentum. From quick scrummage ball Tyler Elstub put Hirons clear down the blind side to score a trade mark long range try and after good work by the pack, Sam Kennedy powered through the Rushden defence to put the game beyond doubt.
Rushden & Higham 5 - St. Ives 5
In another tight game a breakaway try from Tyler Elstub earned a share of the spoils for St. Ives. Rushden started strongly, pounding away at the St. Ives line. Time after time they were held back by firm tackling with Harry Leyden, Lachlan Park and Tim Dale repelling a much larger front row. However, just before the break, Rushden sent the ball wide for their right wing to dive in for the opening score. The pressure continued in the second half but more good tackling kept the home side at bay. Long runs from Hirons and Toby Naylon helped to bring the Saints back into the game but Rushden held out until Tyler Elstub darted through a gap and sprinted clear to equalise with just 2 minutes to go. Both defences then held firm for the match to finish with honours even.
Rushden & Higham 5 - St. Ives 10
The 3rd game between the sides continued in much the same vane as the first two, with neither side ever really dominant. Saint Ives continued to tackle like demons as Rushden threw the ball wide at every available opportunity but wings Bernie Augstein and Jack Fleming managed to snuff out the danger. The pack continued to suck in defenders as they drove forward with the ball and created enough space to set Sam Hirons free for two further tries. Rushden managed one in reply but defences then dominated as the players tired and St. Ives held on to win.
Rushden & Higham 5 - St. Ives 10
In the final game of the day, Sam Hirons scored his fifth try of the day to give the side their 3rd win and finish the day undefeated. Hirons' long range try broke the deadlock after Rushden had cancelled out a first half opportunist try from Tyler Elstub. Saints took scrummage ball against the head and a slight wheel gave Elstub the chance to sprint away from his opposite number before carrying 2 desperate defenders over the line with him to score. Unfortunately the lead lasted no more than 5 minutes before the Rushden right winger side stepped the cover defence to equalise. After Hirons' score the whole team gave one more huge defensive effort to hold on to the victory.
Under 13's
St Ives 52 - Shelford 0
St Ives continued their good run of results with a fine team performance against Shelford at home. The first half proved a close affair with only two converted tries. St Ives took control of the second half right from the kick when Jake Peattie ran over half the length pitch to score under the post. They continued to apply the pressure with a fine display of 15 man Rugby which resulted in a total of 8 tries. Shelford should take some credit as they never once allowed their heads to drop. There were tries from Jake Peattie x7 and Dan Malem. Jack Topham converted six of the tries.
Under 15's
Shelford 22 - St. Ives 5
Sunday morning saw both home and away fixtures between St. Ives and Shelford clubs, with the under 15s making the short trip to Cambridge.
Both sides contested strongly throughout, with the opening score coming after a passage of fierce attack countered by stout defence. Finally the home side breached the visitors line through their forward pack. Saints then rallied and after several excellent passages of play turned the ball over at a ruck, fly-half Jack Smith moved the ball quickly to Matt Bligh, who held his man and released Andrew Howard to break through and score; 5 - 5 at half time.
The second period saw both teams continue their dogged battle during which the "rub of the green" favoured the home side. Their first score came from spilled ball and missed tackles resulting in a foot race and score. The second saw a kick ricochet off of a player's legs and bounce up for the Shelford attacker to run in under the posts, Although the conversion was missed at the first attempt the referee allowed it to be retaken and the points were added. The final score came after several infringements went unpunished during a hard fought passage of play, with Shelford crossing in the corner.
The final score line doesn't reflect what was a very good contest played in good spirit by two determined sides. The return match later in the year should be one to savour!
Under 16's
Shelford 24 points, St Ives 0
Strange as it may seem from the scoreline, this was a good performance by St Ives. The first half was a well contested affair with the two packs competing evenly for the ball. St Ives however, paid the price for forcing the game when an interception on the right wing led to an attack resulting in a converted score for Shelford against the run of play. The rest of the first half saw St Ives attack well, but Shelford defence kept them out. One good run by Ben Carter saw him tackled just short of the line, before he realised there was support. So, the half finished with the score an unfortunate reverse of the balance of play.
The second half was to be a very difficult one for St Ives. From the kick off, Shelford gained good position and executed a simple crash ball and recycle in the centre, leaving the left wing to sprint into the corner from the resulting overlap. A deserved score.
There followed the incident which was to change the game, when St Ives stand off Dan Breed received a heavy knock to his hip and had to be carried off. Calum Richardson the hooker received a knock to his arm and followed soon afterwards. With Shelford able to field nearly two teams with their rolling substitutions, the tiring St Ives team had to fight a rearguard action. One kick for touch fell directly to the Shelford wing, who scored a converted try. Soon after a defensive scrum for St Ives was dsirupted well at the base for Shelford to score again.
With twenty minutes still remaining, a rout looked to be on the cards, but led with vigour and determination by man-of-the-match Dan Hyde, St Ives spirit shone through as attack after attack was repelled. Centre James Wood and fullback Tom Brown were prominent in defence, but all stuck manfully to the task and held their heads high at the end of a tough match.