We took the tranquil trip to Suffolk to play a tournament that substituted our match with the sadly folded Long Buckby!
17 Lads were available and the weather all week looked like it was gonna be a cold, wet and muddy sunday.....how wrong we were!

Sun was out, no rain and some really good pitches considering the weather all week!

Format was a round robin, 6 teams all play 5 x15 minute games.
We drew Beccles, Woodbridge, Colchester and Sudbury

1st game started as we meant to go on... a quick, fast start was essential due to the 15 min games, Beccles looked BIG! But Big Joe Toomey teared up the field after the kick off and "folded" the catcher, Beccles knew they were in a fight,
Tries from Owen, Ed and Big Joe, excellently converted by Owen saw us with a 21-0 lead, Owen kicked a last minute pen for a 24-0 win

2nd Game Woodbridge... another unknown quantity, we had to settle for 10 a side as woodbridge lost 9 players the week prior to the weekend!! But there was some proper units in this team,

We started unsure of our defensive duties, as we had no flankers, 8, wing and full back.

However, Owen scored a try and converted it then another and converted that! 14-0, a momentary lapse in defence allowed Woodbridge to get a consolation try.... the only one we conceded all day!! Another win!! 8 points so far!

Colchester were next up! They were a tough unit to break down! Callum with a strong run managed to score and Finn nailed the conversion, then Finn picked up a loose ball and ran, and ran and ran and tripped on a stray bit of grass then crossed the line! I thought he was "gassed" but he stood up and slotted his own conversion. The boys were amazing in defence, every lad tackled like the whole game depended on it!! Another win!! 14 -0 12 points from 12

Then Sudbury (Now known as our new nemesis, forget Shelford, Stags or Cambridge) who were also undefeated.

This was a battle, against the wind and (slightly) up hill, this was a defence masterclass,all the lads were 100% committed to not letting one person through.... 0-0, we went undefeated with 14 points.

So we knew we were going to be in the top 2 and had to play the final, who was it.... Sudbury.

Another defensive battle ensued, Sam won the toss and we had the wind and the (slight) slope. It was another battle of attrition, no team giving up, we survived multiple penalties against us, then 2 mins from the end we had a penalty in front of the posts (forever to be known as cough gate) this penalty was ungraciously distracted by Sudbury adults coughing and snorting as Owen was getting ready. Unfortunatley it worked and the kick went wide left, however Owen had the last laugh, last play of the match Owen snaked his way in to score and then convert! 7-0 the Ives!

WINNERS!!! St Ives U16's are the Plate winners of the Eastern Counties Cup!! Gotta nice ring to it!

Honorable mentions

Mark: For reffing
Eli: Wrongly pulled up before scoring TWICE! Part of the strogest front row in the eastern counties!
Josh: No matter whose scrum it is he will take it against the head!! Ran like a gazelle in attack! Was everywhere!
Max: Fighting every 75 mins he played today! Strong running and offloads
Toomey: Chopped everyone down today! Remind me not to play in an oppo team against him when he can play seniors! SCORED!
Callum: SCORED, dragged the whole opposition team around the pitch, played all 75 mins
Frank: Tank by name, tank by nature, clash of the titans in the match against Woodbridge. Also did a number at Prop!
Sam: Captain fantastic!! Led the team like he has all season!
Isaac: Offloading king!! Did a great number at flanker!
Owen: Kicked well, scored a hatful and even had a rest for one game! Well played Dolly
Cupcake: Played 9 and 7 today, god he's a pest!! 9 is definitely a good fit, Jackelling king!
Finn: 1st try of the season, slotted some excellent conversions!
Jonah: Played 10, fullback and wing, punched well above his weight in the tackle! Legend!
Ed: Oh we have found a position for you!! Scored, takes a line we don't even see!!
Jack: Defensively sound, martialed the back line and 2 of the best try saving tackles I was proud of!
Axel: Tackled solid and made some brilliant decisive runs!!
Toby: 2nd ever game!.... scored but didn't! , Gutted you went over the dead ball line but you played excellent every game!
Vlad: Tackled without getting pinged for a high tackle(well all but 1)! Love the energy and the enthusiasm and developing into a great part of the team!

Did I mention we are the Eastern Counties Plate WINNERS!!!