Edgy Ives find their mojo in second half

Both sides were subject to a number of changes from earlier matches, so this was always going to be a game to test the squads and see who stepped up under pressure.
The first quarter saw Ives fall behind after a nervous opening. An exchange of penalties was followed by Biggleswade pressure as handling and breakdown accuracy deserted the league leaders for a period. Ives thought they had survived the onslaught when a five metre attacking lineout was thrown in squint by the hosts. But, from the ensuing scrum, Ives were under pressure, turned over and Biggleswade scored a converted try.
Still things were not as smooth as they have been for the Bulls. Kicks from hand went astray offering the hosts relief from pressure and Biggleswade were enjoying the better of the contact area. Pressed into service at flanker, Stuart Cornwell enjoyed throwing himself into close in defence.
The required stepping up started to occur on the half hour. The scrum, led from the front by Josh Dear, Josh Meadows and debutant Dan Hyde began to hold their own. Duncan Williams lifted his colleagues with some destructive runs. And half backs John Naylor and Mickey Drake began to click.
A penalty was punched to the corner. After a series of phases, showing patience and much better ball retention, Williams skipped through for a try, converted by Paul Ashbridge.
Gaining confidence with the score, the Bulls support play improved. Swift hands from Drake afforded Ashbridge the chance to break. Ollie Raine was as ever in support and bounded in for Ives second.
Half time 10-17.
The third quarter was all Ives. The restart could not have been executed better. Raine fielded the ball and started a series of phases that saw the ball seamlessly transferred between forwards and backs the length of the field. The play ended after three minutes with Ashbridge scoring out wide.
Almost immediately Ives were back on the attack. The fortune that often favours the brave saw a comedic sequence follow. Attacking out wide, an Ives midfield move broke down when a pass went astray. The attempted chip over by Biggleswade was charged down by Naylor. With both line ups in disarray, Drake showed his footballing skills and dribbled the ball half the field before picking up to touch down in the corner for the bonus point try.
The wind had been taken from the hosts sails somewhat, but they continued to force Ives back. Ives defence held sound. A turnover saw Tom Watts gain the ball in space. Gabriel Edwards was on hand to continue the drive upfield with a bullocking run. Speedy recycling and great support saw Duncan Williams over for his second of the match, converted.
From the kick off, Edwards was once again in the thick of the action. He powered through the first line of defence and a sumptuous offload kept the move alive. Cornwell finding himself with the full back to beat, kept the ball for the Ives and a swift transference saw Albiee Tayedzerwa score on the right.
With the result beyond doubt, Ives relaxed a little and kept Biggleswade at bay until the last few minutes. The home centre, who had been a threat throughout, sold a dummy and finally breezed through the midfield for a consolation try.
Not willing to allow Biggy the last word, the Bulls were once more stung into action. A turnover in their own half saw Drake break, supported by the driving Edwards. Ashbridge received the ball and parted the defence with a direct run to score under the posts. His conversion completed the scoring.
Stand-in skipper Drake summed up his feelings, “We started slowly, but when we finally switched on we blew them away. We’ll focus during the week on getting an 80 minute game together in time for Daventry when they visit next Saturday.”