Last Saturday the St Ives 1st XV welcomed Bude to Alexandra Road in a crucial bottom of the table clash in the Western Counties West Division. St Ives welcomed back to the side Louis Stevens, Tony Stevens, Mark Sherris, Ian Veal and Neil Corin as coach Joff Rowe looked to bring some experience back in to the side.

As the game began it was noticeable that the St Ives team was very focused on the job in hand and from the kick off they pushed forward looking for an early score. The early pressure was soon rewarded when from an attacking line out Louis Stevens mad a break for the line, when he was stopped just 5 metres out he popped the ball to number 8 Ellis Cox who crossed for his first try of the season, this was converted by Jacob Ninnes to give the home side the perfect start.

The next period of the match saw Bude try to establish a foot hold in the game, the St Ives defence was in resolute mood and resisted the Bude attacks well, the visitors were kept at bay and were only given an opportunity to kick at the posts once which they took well to see the score midway through the half 7-3 to the home side.

The next score in the game came when fly half Mark Sherris showed excellent vision when he kicked over the Bude defence and chased through to gather the ball superbly and score under the posts in front of the clubhouse, again this was converted by Ninnes to give the Hakes a 14-3 lead after 25 minutes. Bude came back with another 3 points from a penalty but it was the home side that had the last word of the half when Ninnes kicked 3 points from a penalty to end the half with St Ives in front by 17 points to 3.

The second half began with Bude on the attack desperate to get back in to the game, initially they pushed the home side back and as they worked the ball wide looking for an opening the St Ives right winger Tom Chandler intercepted a pass and sprinted from inside his own 22 metre line to score under the posts to extend the home sides lead to 24 points to 6 following another successful conversion by Ninnes.

With a bonus point now looking within the home sides reach they pushed forward in search of the all important fourth try, following an attacking scrum 5 metres out scrum half Neal Perkin picked up and sprinted over the line to score a well deserved try to seal the bonus point for the home side, again Ninnes converted to give St Ives a dominant lead at 31 points to 6.

The next period of the game saw Bude get some points of their own, the St Ives cause was not helped when they lost second row Ben Jenkins for 10 minutes following a yellow card for a late tackle. Bude took full advantage of this and scored two tries in this period, one of which they converted to make the score 31-18. However following Jenkins return to the field it was Bude who found themselves down to 14 men when their scrum half was shown yellow for another late challenge. This was the home sides chance to push home an extra man advantage themselves and when Captain Ben Wheeler found himself out wide he took his chance well to cross for the final try of the game, the conversion was again successful from Ninnes to round off an excellent game with the boot for the young centre.

The game ended with St Ives victorious by 38 points to 18 which saw them seal the all important bonus point that enabled them to climb above Bude in the League and away from the relegation zone. Following the game a delighted Joff Rowe commented; “Congratulations to all the squad and management team, finally all the hard work has paid off! The players scored some fantastic tries which were both set piece moves and individual skill, I hope this shows our supporters what we are about and I believe this win will provide some great encouragement and confidence in the camp. Congratulations to Jacob Ninnes, Ben Jenkins and man of the moment Ben Taylor who has been consistent throughout this campaign, well done to all involved!!!”

The Hakes now look forward to a Saturday off next week with no game scheduled, their next game is on Saturday 3rd December away to North Petherton in Somerset with kick off scheduled for 2.30pm.

Good luck to several members of the squad who take part in a trial game for selection into the County under 20’s squad next Sunday at Truro RFC.

St Ives; Ben Wheeler (Captain), Ben Taylor, Tony Stevens, Louis Stevens, Ben Jenkins, Dave Bramwell, Sean Stevens, Ellis Cox, Neal Perkin, Mark Sherris, Tom Chandler, Ian Veal, Jacob Ninnes, Aaron Rowe, Rob Rowe. Replacements; Neil Corin, Scott Perkin, Jamie Prisk.