St Ives H&P Champions 2011

St Ives etched their name on the hunts and peterborough county cup for
the first time in illustrious style beating Westwood 70-8 at Somersham
Road.

Eleven tries were scored by the Bulls with only one against, with the
home team relishing the hard ground to play some destructive running
rugby.

The first half started with St Ives playing up the hill and into he
wind, looking to do he hard yards early. As it was the game started
rather tentatively with both sides probing the defence to find the lay
of the land. St Ives struck first, working the defence out wide
allowing James Wood to score on the right. Cornwell was unsuccessful
with the conversion. Westwood were quick to reply with a penalty after
infringement in the home sides half bringing the score to 5-3.

Looking to put some space between them, St Ives took the option of a
shot at goal which Cornwell converted. The half then went the way of
St Ives with the tries coming regularly. Josh Meadows, Stuart Cornwell
and James Wood all crossed the whitewash with Cornwell converting two
of them, leaving the half time score at 24-3.

Playing down the hill with the wind at their backs, St Ives looked to
rack up a scoreline, with the Westwood pack showing signs of fatigue.
The scores came thick and fast, seven in total with one in reply from
Westwood, through the hands of James Wood completing his hatrick, two
more from Meadows to complete his trio, Cornwell bagging another for
his brace, a brace for Tom Wakerley and a final try for Russell
Warrington. Of these 7, 4 were converted through a trio of kickers.
Cornwell took one, Meadows converted his own and Alex Henley grabbed 2
to bring the final score to 70-8.

A convincing victory and one sided scoreline that did little to credit
Westwood for their part in the final. They did come close on a number
of occasions, but stalwart defence from the home team repelled the
waves of attacks.

Credit goes to the entire St Ives squad who demonstrated an exemplary
exhibition of team rugby, supporting their teammates from start to
finish, leaving outgoing skipper Ross Thompson proud of his side. "I
couldn't ask of more from the guys today. I wanted above all a
flawless team effort and the guys answered my request with aplomb, the
scoreline is a bonus, I'd have been happy with a 3-0 so this is the
icing on top"