Score belies tremendous Bulls persistence

St Ives travelled to Long Buckby with a dramatically changed side. Only two players started in the same positions as the previous week’s battle, and the lack of continuity was to show by the end of the match.
With the entire first choice front row absent, Tim Lumley-Good, Will Atkinson, playing his last game for the Club before moving to London and Duncan Williams stepped up. The game started with the totally reshuffled Ives pack being unusually shunted around. Front foot possession for the Buckby backs was converted for the first score.
Almost immediately, a clearing kick by Ives was not well marshalled and the Buckby backs easily broke through for their second try.
Young Tom Evans on the flank was sacrificed as the Bulls bolstered the pack with the arrival of Vet Graham Moffitt at tight head, Williams reverting to his now-favoured position of 2nd row. The scrums stabilised and the game became more even.
Except in the lineout. To the amusement of many watching supporters, St. Ives had no practised thrower on the park. It was little surprise therefore that they managed to win only two lineouts in the entire match. And both of those were on the opposition put in!
Nonetheless, Ives battled back into the match. The pack held up Buckby in a series of 5 metre scrums, but the resistance was broken out wide once again.
The second quarter of the game showed what might have been. The Bulls played well with ball in hand for the remainder of the half. Ollie Bartlett, Paul Ashbridge and Alex Henly all made breaks. Sadly, none resulted in what would have been deserved scores.
Just before halftime Buckby were once again on the attack. The indefatigable Bartlett was on the scene to prevent a score, but this time illegally and he was shown yellow.
Half time 17-0 to the hosts.
The concession of 6 tries in the second half sounds like a procession. However, from the side-lines it was apparent that only stout and eager Buckby defence prevented the Bulls crossing the whitewash on a number of occasions.
Williams, pack leader Ross Thompson, who had a fine never-say-die match, Matt Wood and Mickey Blackley all began to find spaces up front. Scrum half Nick Gunnell was snapping at their heels and progress was frequently made upfield. Unfortunately, the continuity was missing and just as frequently a Bull would find himself isolated, stripped of possession and stand up to see the Buckby players making good use of turnover ball and scoring at the other end.
Mention must be made again of Will Nelson playing centre, who in the midst of the mounting score tackled as if his life depended on it.
Even under the deluge, still Ives played positively. Peter Ford at full back and debutant Ben Fleming on the wing for James Scott, combined well to mount an attack, to be thwarted just short of the line.
Luke Slade was held up over the line after another multi-phase effort.
The Bulls were left to lick their wounds, but look forward to the final home match of a tough season next week with optimism. Even in a match with such a lopsided score line there were periods of very competitive rugby from the Ives and heads were held high to the end.
With four under-17s on the park (Evans, Nelson, Fleming and Sam Tuckwood), there is also an indication that squad strength is improving via the youth policy the Club follows. #uptheives!