Last weekend a depleted St Ives 1st team squad made the long trip to Bideford RFC for their latest game in the Western Counties West League. With many players out through injury and un-availability coach Joff Rowe was forced to field a very young side including two players from this season’s Colts side Jacob Ninnes and Josh Palmer.

The game was played in sunny conditions with little or no wind, from the kick off it was clear the St Ives players were in for a tough day at the office. The scrum was immedietley under pressure from the much heavier home pack, even when the scrum was in St Ives favour the Bideford forwards pushed the lighter pack off the ball to set up attacking options of their own.

The score board soon reflected the advantage that Bideford had on the field as they raced into a 14-0 lead after only 10 minutes despite some valiant defending from the young St Ives players. TYhe visitors almost scored a try of their own after 15 minutes but were held back by a solid home defence. They managed to put 3 points on the board through fly half Jamie Prisk when he successfully kicked a penalty after 14 minutes.

The home side pressed home their advantage for the rest of the half and as half time approached St Ives were staring at a deficit of 33 points to 3.

When the second half began it became apparent that the St Ives players were going to put up a fight, all the players showed superb commitment and at times gave Bideford as good as they got without unfortunately troubling the scoreboard. At the back of the troubled St Ives scrum Ellis Cox picked up several times making good yards and when young Jacob Ninnes took over the kicking duties at fly half St Ives had their best spell of the game. Left winger Dillon Loake was unlucky not to get on the score sheet as he danced through after some excellent work from the forwards to set up fast clean ball for the backs to use, he was held up just inches from the line by some last ditch Bideford defence to break St Ives hearts.

As the half wore on it became clear that despite valiant and courageous attempts St Ives were not going to get on the score sheet, Bideford ran in another 5 tries before the end to put the game well beyond the St Ives players. However the last move of the game saw St Ives mount another attack which threatened the Bideford line, Tom Chandler playing out of position in the pack burst through the home defence after more excellent work from the pack only to have his effort ruled out as the referee judged the ball not to have crossed the line. The game ended with the final score 66-3 to Bideford to leave St Ives looking to next week’s important foot of the table clash with Bude as an opportunity to get some much needed points in their league campaign.

After the game coach Joff Rowe commented, "each and every player gave 100% for the club and although we were heavily beaten by a side in the top four of our League I was able to see improvements from a number of young players. This is a frustrating time for me as the players are committed and enthusiastic about playing for the club and do not deserve the results we are getting. My thanks go out to the Colts coach’s for allowing me the opportunity to play Jacob Ninnes and Josh Palmer, my congratulations also to Ellis Cox who responded well behind a beaten scrum."

The Hakes are back in action next Saturday at Alexandra Road with a home game against Bude with kick off scheduled for 2.30pm.

St Ives; Ben Wheeler (Captain), Ben Taylor, Ben Jenkins, Matt Pascoe, Tom Chandler, Dave Bramwell, Sean Stevens, Ellis Cox, Neal Perkin, Jamie Prisk, Dillon Loake, Aaron Rowe, Rob Rowe, Josh Palmer, Jacob Ninnes. Replacements; Joff Rowe (Not Used)