History was made at The Chicken Shack on Sunday as St Ives Ladies played their first-ever NC3 League match, welcoming Haverhill Ladies for the opening fixture of the season.

For much of the first 40 minutes, the hosts found themselves defending from deep, with Haverhill applying pressure and St Ives repeatedly defending from inside their own 22-metre line. Despite the pressure, St Ives held firm and opened the scoring through Victoria Shivers. Haverhill responded with a try and conversion, but St Ives continued to battle and were rewarded when Chelia Gomes crossed for their second try. St Ives went into half-time with a narrow 10–7 lead.

St Ives started strongly, with Ellie Bath crossing for her first try. Haverhill responded with a try and conversion, but St Ives continued to attack. Laura Cutler added another try before Victoria Shivers converted, extending the home side’s advantage. Ellie Bath then grabbed her second try, with Victoria Shivers once again adding the extras. St Ives had built a healthy lead, but Haverhill fought back with two further tries and conversions. With the match entering its final stages, St Ives were forced to defend under pressure. The home side showed plenty of resilience to protect their lead. Then, in the last few minutes Fran Day crossed for St Ives’ sixth try. Gem Bacon added the conversion, securing a memorable 36–28 victory.

Player Awards

Forward of the Match – Lauryn Jordan
A fantastic debut from Lauryn Jordan, who made an immediate impact in the pack.

Back of the Match – Ellie Tod
Ellie Tod put in an excellent performance from the back, providing composure and attacking threat throughout.

Coaches’ Player – Sophia King
Another debutant, Sophia King impressed the coaching team with her attitude, commitment and willingness to get stuck into the game.

It was also a memorable afternoon for Jorja Korosec, Saoirse Hann-Mills and Beth Neave, who all made their St Ives Ladies debuts. Congratulations to all five debutants on their first appearances in St Ives colours.

A huge thank you must also go to everyone who came down to The Chicken Shack to support the team. The atmosphere around the pitch made the occasion even more special. Your support made a huge difference

The first NC3 League win. A 36–28 victory at The Chicken Shack. What a way to begin this new chapter. A historic opening weekend for St Ives Ladies.