Results and Reports 25th March 2007
St. Ives 34 - Ely 5
On a bright spring morning and good firm conditions under foot St. Ives welcomed Ely back to Somersham Road on Sunday morning. With several players unavailable due to County selection or injury St. Ives fielded a very different looking line-up. With a number of players playing out of their normal positions and some new combinations finding their way the first quarter was evenly contested and saw a number of errors. The Saints forwards contested well in the scrum and having taken one "against the head", fly-half Liam Cook broke through the defence and offloaded to Ryan Hornett for the first score. This appeared to wake the home side up, especially having lost an hour sleep and they started to pressurise the visitor's defence, resulting in a number of penalties being conceded. A quickly taken "tap" by captain and scrum-half Andy Cox saw Tom Watts held up short of the line, but excellent support from Matt Cox playing in the centres completed the move and the score, his first for the Club. John Leak added the conversion. The final score of the half came from a passage of great interplay by the backs that was finished off by Leak scoring in the corner.
The second period saw the hosts playing up the slope but with the unusual benefit of having the wind behind them, which was used to good effect to gain field position. The next score came from the ball being won at a ruck; Andy Cox dummied a pass and darted round the "blind side" to score. The game continued to be fiercely contested by both sides and the home side had to work hard to win possession and defend well against some strong running by the big Ely forwards. The St. Ives front five again took ball against the head and Andy Cox broke from the base before offloading to Adam Howell to race over. Saints final score came from another well-won scrummage providing a platform for the backs. Matt Cox at fly-half moved the ball quickly to Hayden Bailey who was unlucky not to make it all the way to the Ely line. Once again the St. Ives support play was good, with Hornett taking the ball at pace to score by the posts. Leak successfully added the extras. The home side continued to press for more points but these came in the form of a well-taken interception by the Ely winger who ran in from almost halfway.
The match gave valuable experience to two groups of developing players and was played with great spirit and enthusiasm throughout. St. Ives team manager, Andy Britton, was pleased with the St. Ives performance, especially with the number of enforced changes.
East Midlands Junior 7's
St. Ives under 16 reach semi finals
Entering a 7s tournament for the first time, St Ives enjoyed a successful campaign. The delay in the tournament due to previous bad weather meant that the squad was reshuffled considerably from the original, but the much altered side developed strongly throughout the tournament.
The first match was a hard fought affair against Luton. Matt Nice starred by scoringa hat-trick, converting two of his tries. But each time St Ives went in front, Luton replied with their own score. Were it not for the magnificent cover tackling of James Wood, Luton may have stolen the match. The first 14 minute match finished 19-17 in St Ives' favour.
St Ives tightened up the defence in their second match against Wellingborough. Thet played some excellent 7s with ball in hand, running well in support and rounding the defence regularly. Once again Matt Nice Scored well with another hat-trick, this time supported by James Wood who scored twice. Nice converted four of the tries to leave the final score 33-0.
The last pool match was to decide which side progressed to the semi finals, with St Ives pitched against a strong Ampthill side. This was to be St Ives finest performance. However, it started poorly when, having been on the attack, tired defence in the first few minutes allowed the Ampthill flier to sprint up the wing to score in the corner. St Ives response was admirable. Patient build up in attack and looping support between Nice and Tom Brown saw Brown finish off a fine move, converted by Nice.
The second half was also a good half for St Ives, keeping possession for much of it and defending with gusto. Wood made an excellent break and rounded the defence to score, and Nice added to his try tally on the final whistle. 17-5.
In the semin final, St Ives came up against a Bedford side palpably fitter and with a pair of fliers who were to prove their undoing. Bedford took thelead after once again, St Ives started tiredly. However the response was swift and really good 7s play once again saw Wood break clear to score. Just before half time, Bedford re-took the lead after a fortuitous refereeing decision. It proved to be the turning point as trying to play catch up in the second half, loose play by St Ives allowed Bedford two more scores. Wood then took matters into his own hands, or feet, and turned the Bedford defence with a kick and chase, controlling the ball well to dive over. Nice converted. Bedford got the final score to qualify for the final (where they lost to Biggleswade), 12-31.
The St Ives 7s squad was justifiably proud of its efforts and looks forward to its next outing in May.