St. Ives at Huntingdon – 4th December 2005.
On a bright sunny Sunday December morning, St. Ives ventured into Huntingdon for a local derby against the Stags. Like the previous week against Bourne, St. Ives had a squad of 20 from which to select the Under 7’s side and a squad of 10 for the Under 8’s.
St. Ives Under 8’s
Huntingdon 25, St. Ives 15
Saints started briskly, opening the scoring thanks to a try by Jake Bowen, but Stags equalised and then took a two-try lead. James Digby pulled one back for the visitors but the hosts scored two more, and a late second try by Jake completed the scoring.
Huntingdon 20, St. Ives 20
An exciting encounter which was as even as the score suggested, neither team enjoying a lead of more than one try. Again, Jake Bowen opened the scoring for Saints, but the hosts equalised. Daniel Palmer regained the lead for the visitors, but again the hosts equalised and then took the lead. Cameron Pollock scored to draw the visitors level, and Niall Tutt scored his first career try to regain the lead for Saints, but the hosts levelled the score just before the final whistle.
Huntingdon 30, St. Ives 20
Stags withstood early pressure from the visitors and scored on the break, but from the restart Lewis Smith put Cameron Pollock through to equalise. After a good build-up James Digby scored to put Saints into the lead, but the hosts responded from the restart. James was stopped just short of the line, and passed to Jake Bowen who went through to restore the visitors’ lead, but the hosts equalised again on the stroke of half-time. Stags stepped up a gear in the second half, racking up a three-try lead, but Saints pulled back one thanks to a strong run by Max Darer to the corner.
Huntingdon 25, St. Ives 15
Another gripping game which was close right through to the end. Once again, Saints started brightly when Lewis Smith was tagged short of the line and passed to Jake Bowen who stepped over to score. The hosts equalised and then took the lead, but Jake equalised with a wide run to the corner, and Stags regained the lead just before half time. Ross Meagher equalised for the visitors straight after the break, but Stags retook the lead from the restart. Daniel Palmer had what would have been the equaliser disallowed, and the hosts scored once again at the end.
Today’s squad:
Jake Bowen
Samuel Cox
Max Darer
James Digby
Nathan Flack
PJ Malem
Ross Meagher
Cameron Pollock
Lewis Smith
Niall Tutt
St. Ives Under 7’s
St. Ives Blues 5 v 5 Stags
With the weather the way it was the Blues and Stags duly provided an entertaining game, where there was little to choose between either side. Stags crossed the line first but St. Ives quickly hit back with a good run from Oliver Naylor, Cullen Smy was in support, and when he was tagged William Hirons was on hand to slip over in the corner to level things up. Stags regained the lead despite some good tagging all round notably from Sam Dibble. Blues again hit back to level when Tommy McCarthy charged through only to slip short of the line, again William Hirons was on hand to pick up the offload to score his second of the day. This quickly became a hat-trick when good tagging from William Rolt and Charlie Bowen led to Stags knocking the ball on, William Hirons pounced on the loose ball to put St. Ives in the lead. Shortly before half-time Stags levelled things up. (HT: 3 – 3).
Enforced changes at half-time disrupted St. Ives rhythm and despite some good pressure from Freddie Smith, Simon Carter and Cullen Smy, they couldn’t quite breach the Stags defence. Stags quickly countered and scored, possibly the try of the game with a scintillating length of the field run. St. Ives gathered themselves, and levelled once again, this time it was Cullen Smy who managed to burrow his way over after another good run from Tommy McCarthy. Once again Stags went ahead, only for that young fellow William Hirons to round off the scoring for the day. Neither side were then able to make inroads with both defences in the ascendancy as time ran out.
St. Ives Blues 4 v 4 Stags
In a game of distinct halves, the first was full of marvellous running and tagging from both teams. This time it was St. Ives that started the scoring with a great run from Tommy McCarthy. Stags were to equalise, in a game the followed a similar pattern to the first. Tommy McCarthy was then on hand to take the scoring pass after William Rolt was tagged short of the line. Daniel Purver and Cullen Smy were then to the fore as they repelled the Stags, unfortunately they couldn’t hold them out forever, and the teams turned round level. (HT: 2 – 2)
More changes for St. Ives meant that the team was again disrupted, and this appeared to filter across to the Stags, as the second half became a scrappy with both sides guilty of some poor handling. This eventually led to Stags taking the lead, but then some good pressure from St. Ives with the whole team supporting well, enabled Sam Dibble to score from close range. Stags scored again, and with time running out Charlie Bowen found himself in possession on the half-way line, and despite being barged a couple of times somehow managed to sail passed the Stags defence to equalise.
St. Ives Browns 1 v 5 Stags
Maybe St. Ives Browns were sunbathing, or at the beach, as they certainly failed to turn up for the first half, as they were completely outplayed by a determined and well-drilled Stags side, although the Browns did have a try disallowed, they were soon three tries down. Once they finally turned up Thomas Johnson scored following a good run by Harry Spittle. This was however, the only good point of the first half, as Stags managed to reclaim the three try advantage at half-time (HT: 1 – 4).
The second half proved to be a more even affair which St. Ives dominated, although they couldn’t break through. Jed McDonald, Tom Barber, Harry all had good runs, and with good support from the rest of the team including Zac Ling, Chris Duma and Flynn Kennedy should have made more of the possession, but this was not to be with good defending from Stags. Stags even had the audacity to score the only try of the second half, and were denied a second with some good defending from the Browns.
St. Ives Browns 3 v 2 Stags
In their second game the Browns turned in a much better performance, with Sam Tuckwood storming through, only for the try to be disallowed. This was disappointing especially as Stags then managed to breach the St. Ives defence to open the scoring. This was the way it stayed until half-time, despite some good attacking. Good runs from Thomas Johnson, Tom Barber and Harry Spittle came to nothing, with Stags defending stoutly. (HT: 0 – 1)
The second half started well for St. Ives with Tom and Harry having more good runs only for Harry to be tagged short of the line. The pressure eventually told when Sam Tuckwood was in support to take the ball over and give St. Ives something to cheer about. St. Ives were then back on the attack when they forced Stags to turnover the ball with some solid defending. The whole team were then involved in a great move which took them the length of the pitch, good tagging from Stags, but good support led to George Peacock having the final touch and scoring the second. Stags were again unable to make use of possession, and Sam Tuckwood scored his second to open up a two try gap. Despite scoring their second, it was Stags unable to close the gap.
Today’s squad:
Blues:
Charlie Bowen, William Hirons, Oliver Naylor, Tommy McCarthy, William Rolt, Cullen Smy, Daniel Purver, Freddie Smith, Simon Carter, Sam Dibble.
Browns:
Chris Duma, Thomas Johnson, Zac Ling, George Peacock, Harry Spittle, Sam Tuckwood, Jed McDonald, Tom Barber, Flynn Kennedy, Ben Fleming.
Under 14s
Oundle 7 - St. Ives 15
A good crowd was treated to another excellent contest between two evenly matched sides, both of whom played the game with total commitment. The opening exchanges had both teams throwing everything at each other, with both defences cancelling out all attacking breaks. The St. Ives forward pack were in good form and dominated the set piece play. From one break out, desperate defence from the hosts saw them penalised for pulling back and Andrew Howard claimed the opening points from the resulting penalty kick. Spurred on, the visiting pack again provided ball for the backs, resulting in another great break by Matt Bligh. The ball eventually found it’s way to Mehmet Koroglu, who scored his first try for the club. A combination of stout defence and some handling errors denied Saints any further score before the interval.
The second period saw Oundle come back hard but this time it was the fifteen visitors that gave everything to keep them out. When St. Ives did regain possession they threatened through combined forward and back play. Another break between Bligh and Tino Zicchi was halted but quick recycling saw a superb pick up by Jordan Francis who drew two defenders, offloaded to Howard, who set Koroglu in for his second score after blazing down the wing, finishing under the posts. However, the home side did not give up and forced their way back in to the game with a good score from Grant Snelling after a scrum awarded for a Saints forward pass. This was a thoroughly entertaining encounter, played with great spirit by both sides. The Oundle coaches selected Matt Bligh as the man-of-the-match.
Under 15s
Deepings 49 - St. Ives 12
Disrupted by illness and injury, St Ives travelled to Deepings optimistic to banish the previous week’s poor showing. Unfortunately, a ruthless Deepings squad took full advantage of 14-man St Ives and punished slack defence with their own slick handling and speedy wingers. 5 unanswered tries in the first half resulted.
The second half started as poorly as the first for the visitors, when straight from the kick-off, missed tackles meant only one pass was needed for the hosts to score in the corner. This appeared to be the final insult for a stung team and the remainder of the game proved very even and displayed Saints’ fighting spirit From the re-start St Ives drove forward purposefully, forcing Deepings to concede a penalty. The ball was run and Matt Nice sprinted superbly to score. The nature of the match was summed up as his well struck conversion attempt struck the post. The home side continued to apply pressure and finally scored more points. But, once again St Ives responded well and set up the position where once again, Dan Breed sprinted through to score an excellent try, which he converted himself. Whilst the final score was disappointing, there was evidence enough in the second half to illustrate what St Ives are capable of when they set their minds to it.
James Wood tackled and fought manfully throughout the match and was justly awarded the man-of-the match prize.
Under 16s
St. Ives 10 - Deepings 5
An under-strength St Ives team of fourteen hosted a full strength Deepings side at Somersham Road . The hosts started playing against the slope and the elements and opted for a fast, aggressive rucking and driving game, with Nick Vallance, Rory Fry and Jack Collins leading the way. This approach resulted in Saints opening the scoring when from a series of drives St Ives drove the ball from Deepings 22 metre line to the try line with Jack Collins crashing through the visitor’s defence to score. Deepings fought back well and began to win more ball and use their extra man advantage, where only courageous tackling by Jamie Caldwell and the new centre pairing of Sam Phillips and James Bennett prevented them from breaking free. However, as the first half drew to a close the extra man advantage took it’s toll and Deeping drove over to level the score.
The second period started with Deepings attacking strongly and only staunch defence led by Chris Sykes and Alex Cade repelled the series of attacks. Gradually the St Ives pack began to exert control of the game and from quick rucking good ball was delivered to the backs who fed the ball wide for James Bennett to cut through the Deepings Defence to score. Deepings again rallied and attacked using the extra man to create several overlaps and only desperate tackling by St Ives managed to contain the visitors. Nearing the end of the game, St Ives impressive tight five and a very direct approach put pressure on the visitors line, but Deepings broke out with less than a minute remaining only a try saving tap tackle by Chris Sykes prevented the score. Deepings again recycled the ball and on the final whistle a powerful tackle from James Bennett stopped a certain try.