Déjà vu as Ives are done at the death

In front of a well-oiled contingent of VPs and visiting guests, both teams played good attacking rugby to keep the crowd enthused. Ives had already suffered a pre-kick-off blow when stand-off Max Dominy pulled up in the warm up and was unable to start.
Worse was to follow after five minutes when Jim Robinson, shifted from full back, caught a stray knee to the temple as he attempted to offload during a promising attack. Having had his troubles with concussion, he was immediately removed from the fray.
From the off, both teams had demonstrated strong defences, so playing with the elements, Dees stand-off opted to kick from hand frequently. Ives back three had started nervously, but repelled the bombardment. Peter Ford on the right wing was fielding and counter-attacking well.
Ives continued to play with ball in hand and having just missed a penalty attempt gained due reward when a series of surges involving both forwards and backs got them to within 5 metres of the Dees line. Ollie Bartlett, Duncan Williams and an aggressive Michael Wright were all involved. Driving the ball over, Bulls were held up, but gained the put in at the resultant scrum.
The dominant pack attempted the push over. However, the scrum was skewed and Ross Thompson at No. 8 took responsibility and picked up to crash over. With both pre-match kickers off the park, Paul Ashbridge stepped up to slot a superb conversion against the wind from wide out.
Dees used the strong wind to gain territory, camping in the Ives final third for the remainder of the half. A series of attacks on the Bulls line was repelled. During the defence of one sortie, Timo Battut was unfortunately left prone with a season ending concussion. Once again, Ives had to reorganise with Alex Henly going to scrum half and Jamie Noble coming on for a rare appearance after completing his waste pipe installation duties in the Clubhouse a few minutes earlier.
The defence held firm and the half ended 7-0.
Turning with the wind in their favour, Ives had high hopes of victory. Dees altered their game plan and began to fling the ball wide in attack. Only excellent scrambling defence by young winger Will Nelson and centre Mickey Drake prevented a couple of scores. Ives line speed began to flag and Dees took advantage. Pressure finally told and the visitors crashed over for their first score.
The Dees kicker also kicked a difficult wide-out conversion with aplomb.
With the scores tied, skipper Dear rallied his troops for increased effort. From the kick off, Ives attacked down the left flank. Possession was maintained well and the defensive line was finally broken when Henly and Ashbridge linked to put the direct running Josh Dear through a gap for a well-deserved try. By the morning, the distance sprinted by the prop was claimed to be all of 20 metres.
As the game entered its final quarter, Ives were finding it difficult to leave their own half. Playing too much rugby in their own 22 and occasionally kicking aimlessly to offer Dees broken field was to prove fatal.
The Bulls also found themselves on the wrong side of the referees whistle too often, gifting possession back to their opponents. Luck was with them, however, when from a well worked play from a lineout, Dees breached the line, only to be called back for crossing.
It was a brief reprieve. From another odd Bulls kick, Dees counter-attacked left then right and scored in the corner. Again the scores were tied.
The final match affecting decision came from the man in charge, who deemed Ives defence to be too frequently offside. Following another transgression, Williams was the man to be singled out and yellow carded.
With the extra man for the final minutes of the game, Dees threw everything into attack and broke through for a try, dashing the hopes of Ives.
There was to be one last twist in the match. With the visiting coaching staff screaming for a penalty in front to be kicked to deny Ives a losing bonus point, the on field decision was to run against the tired Bulls defence, hoping for a try bonus point of their own. Drake was again prominent in repelling the attack, and Bulls salvaged the bonus point for their efforts.
With two games remaining, the Bulls will need to remain focused on all the good things from the match to take into the tough encounters which follow, the next against promotion chasing Long Buckby.