Results and Reports 21st January 2007
Under 16's
Peterborough under-16s 34 points, St Ives 24
St Ives' ability to score with limited possession kept this game very much alive until the final whistle. Travelling to Peterborough owing to waterlogged pitches at home, St Ives started slowly and allowed Peterborough to mount an early attack. From a line out in the 22, Peterborough's bigger pack trundled towards the line and broke free to score an unconverted try.
Immediately, Peterborough were on the attack again and only a valiant tackle by Calum Richardson prevented another score. Unfortunately, the effort resulted in a game endiing injury for Richardson. Tom Brown and David Baker also made try saving tackles to keep St Ives in the game.
A couple of kicks relieved pressure and from a penalty a magnificent break by Adam Buttigieg, playing in the centre, followed by a deft pass to the oncoming Matt Nice led to the equalising score.
With renewed heart, St Ives took the game to Peterborough, running the ball from deep through wingers Ben Carter and Steve Hehir and began to ruck with purpose. From one such ruck, St Ives recovered quick ball and Chris Thomas could not believe the space allowed, sprinting from half way to score under the posts. Nice converted.
Peterborough reverted to their forward based pattern and another line out and drive led to their next score, followed just before half time by a convrted try after St Ives defence failed to make early tackles.
Worse was to follow immediately in the second half when St Ives problem with tackling legs was exposed and the Peterborough forwards once again trundled long distance to score. Wresting a ball from a lone St Ives forward, Peterborough realised they had backs with an overlap for the left wing to score in the corner.
This seemed to wake up St Ives and they got to within two scores after Matt Taylor had made a good drive and the forwards secured possession. Once again, man-of-the-match Buttigieg sliced through the defence and popped the ball for Nice to score and convert his own try.
Once again, thinking they were in with a chance, St Ives tackling deserted them an a soft converted try was conceded. But, the final word was with St Ives as excellent breaks by the backs, were followed up with great support by the entire pack, Simon Dunn showing great determination to drive for the line and score.