Bulls fall just short in topsy-turvy encounter

Ives will look back on another could have/should have match after a heart breaking defeat against mid-table Rugby St. Andrews.
Playing into the strong wind, Ives began superbly. A bullocking run from Duncan Williams gained territory in the Saints 22, the ball was well recycled and Williams himself completed the surge by crashing over. Max Dominy, happily playing his first game at the chicken shack for many moons, added the extras.
Rugby were then down to 14 for ten minutes as the hooker saw fit to stamp on a prone Ross Thompson, who may have been hovering close to the offside line. Still, it was unwarranted foul play and illustrated a bit of niggle up front.
Ives continued to make ground keeping the ball tight, but a couple of injudicious kicks granted the Saints back three possession. Poor cover defence allowed huge meterage to be gained on each occasion. Ives found themselves behind after conceding two quick tries.
Kick offs seemed to be problematic for both sides in the wind. No sooner had one side scored than the other reaped the benefit of poor ball retention at the restart. Neither team appeared to be able to catch the ball on the full.
So, it was now as Ives bounced back with a penalty and following a turnover in midfield, good hands saw Ollie Bartlett break free to score. Converted by Dominy.
With the score close, the Bulls hoped to reach half time in the ascendant. Unfortunately, running the ball from depth being the order of the day against the elements proved to be their undoing. Three times before the break, Saints turned over Bulls possession and simple hands and direct running was enough.
Turning round at 17-34 was a fair reflection of the home side’s lack of the necessary intensity, both at the breakdown and one on one defence.
The second half was a different matter.
Paul Ashbridge began to make his mark with line breaks close in. The forwards led by Josh Dear supported, and Williams was the man in the right place again to score a well-deserved second for him. Converted by Dominy.
Saints were under pressure. A speculative kick ahead was fielded by Jim Robinson. He made great ground, the ball was recycled and finally whipped through the hands to find Bartlett wrapping around and scoring his own second.
The Bulls began to enjoy themselves and with a shimmy, Ashbridge broke through to score under the posts after a series of phases had left the visitors reeling. Again, converted. And Ives led by 2 with a quarter of the match remaining.
Penalties were exchanged.
With ten minutes to go, Rugby redoubled their effort. Even with the wind behind them, Ives defence was much improved. But, they could find no way out of their own half, with potentially clearing kicks straying to the hands of the galloping Rugby back 3 who returned with vigour. The home scrum was under pressure and a series of set pieces were in disarray as Rugby fought for the Ives ball.
Pressure finally told when a clearing kick was snaffled and Saints pounced to score in the corner.
It was a heart-breaking end to the game. The Bulls must reflect not on the ending, but the first half performance. If the level had been anywhere close to that of the 2nd half, the result would have followed.