Stags complete the double over Bulls

Huntingdon ran out worthy winners in the eagerly awaited local derby after nullifying Ives threats.
Early exchanges were fierce between the local rivals and in a sign of canny game management, Stags chose to convert an early long penalty to take the lead.
With a strong wind behind them, the hosts kept Ives pinned in their own half for long periods. Attempting to run the ball out of defence, calamity befell the Bulls as the ball found turf. The Stags’ centre gathered and trotted over untouched for a converted try.
Ives gained some good territory as the half progressed, but doubled-up defence on their strong runners proved strong enough to keep them out.
As the half was expiring, Huntingdon managed to break the siege and slot another penalty, to lead by 13 at the break.
Regaining possession from the kick off, Huntingdon were awarded another penalty in front to extend their lead.
There followed a bewildering passage from a line out, when Stags truck and trailer made its way to the Bulls’ line and a try awarded.
Huntingdon took advantage of a shell-shocked Ives to extend their lead still further with another try from work close to the line.
With a deficit of 26 point to surmount and only 15 minutes remaining, the Bulls finally managed to hold on to the ball for multiple phases. Following a strong attack through the forwards, Tom Graves crashed over for Ives first points.
Nervousness crept into the Stags ranks and their discipline faltered, granting Ives field position from some penalties.
It was Stags’ turn to defend their line, but excellent scrum ball from the Ives pack, which was dominant throughout, ended with Duncan Williams charging through a stretched defence to score Ives second.
The Bulls scented an unlikely victory and ramped up the pressure. Great work keeping the ball alive led to Chris Williams dancing to the line.
With Mitch Newman converting all three tries, it was a five-point game and Ives with the momentum. Unfortunately for them, the clock was in the red and the game over.
Coach Paul Humphreys was a frustrated man after the game. “A frustrating day. Despite the score line, it felt like we had control for the majority of the game. Our unforced errors allowing Huntingdon to take a lead into the 2nd half.
“Oddly our scrum never got the rewards from their dominance and we had a good platform to play off, but we huffed and huffed and never got out of 2nd gear.
“We did not start the second half well. We then came to life after 65 minutes and started to play like we knew we could and we had Huntingdon in all sorts of problems. We just left it a little too late.”