Hakes Start New Year with A Win

St Ives 43 v 12 Honiton

St Ives began 2016 as they ended 2015 with another win at Alexandra Road. Head Coach, Paul Thirlby, named a strong side for the visit of Devon side Honiton. The wet weather did its best to dampen spirits, but the Hakes were just too strong for the Lacemen.

As both sides struggled to cope with the conditions in the early stages it was 15 minutes before the first points of the afternoon were scored. The St Ives scrum was causing the visitors problems and after several penalties on the Honiton 5 metre line the Hakes kept the pressure on by electing to scrummage each time. On the third occasion the St Ives pack trundled over the line, allowing number 8 Martyn Lawrance to score the try from the back of the scrum. Grant Thirlby added the conversion to give the Hakes a 7 points to nil lead after a quarter of an hour.

It was another 15 minutes before the next points were scored in the game. Both sides were still struggling to cope with the conditions. Handling errors were plentiful from both sides, but it was Honiton who took the opportunity and scored the next try of the match through their scrum half Phil Bennett. The conversion was missed to leave the Lacemen trailing by 7 points to 5 with half an hour played.

It was St Ives that had the final say of the first half. In the 37th minute, centre Greg Loydall made a defining break. A flowing movement via Lewis Thomas saw Peter Mabbott tackled close to the scoreboard try line. Following further pressure on the Honiton try line, it was second row Todd Prisk that crashed over to score the Hakes second try of the afternoon. The conversion was missed to make the half time score St Ives 12, Honiton 5.

With the condition of the pitch deteriorating fast the St Ives players were forced to change their shirts at the break to give the referee and the supporters looking on a chance of telling which side was which as the mud threatened to make either side look the same.

Once again it was the dominant St Ives scrum that gave the Hakes the opportunity to turn the screw on their opposition. A scrum on the Honiton 5 metre line saw the Hakes take one against the head and again the St Ives players trundled over the line allowing Martyn Lawrance to score his second try of the match from the rear of the set piece. Again Thirlby added the extra’s to put the Hakes further ahead by 19 points to 5.

As the St Ives players began to look as though they were beginning to get a grip on the match the Honiton players turned defence into attack in an instant. Honiton left winger, Will Tyers, intercepted a loose St Ives pass and sprinted almost the full length of the pitch to score a try underneath the St Ives posts. Adam Thompson added the conversion to put the Devon side back in the match at 19 points to 12.

Despite conceding a second try the St Ives players did manage to get a stranglehold on the game and went on to dominate the remainder of the match. Left wing Pete Mabbott grabbed the next try when a fumbled kick clearance from a Honiton player went straight into his arms allowing him to score in the corner. The difficult conversion was missed, but the Hakes had their all important 4th and bonus point try and a lead of 24 points to 5.

St Ives Captain, Ben Taylor, continued his recent run of scoring tries when he grabbed another following a successful catch and drive from the forwards. Again the conversion was missed, but the Hakes were now fully in control at 29 points to 5.

The St Ives right wing Bobby Conroy-Smith was the next Hake on the score sheet when the ball was swept wide allowing him to score the try. The difficult conversion was kicked superbly by Thirlby with a little help from the posts on 74 minutes to extend the St Ives lead further to 36 points to 5. The last play of the match saw flanker Cameron Bone round off the scoring with a try near the Honiton posts. Grant Thirlby added the conversion to finish the match with St Ives winning comfortably by 43 points to 5.

After the final whistle in the clubhouse prop Ben Jenkins was awarded man of the match following his fine display in the front row.

The Hakes are back in action this coming Saturday when the travel across the bay to local rivals Hayle for their next league game in the Tribute Cornwall & Devon league. Kick off in Hayle is scheduled for 2:30pm any travelling support will be very welcome.

St Ives : Jess Tompsett, Ben Taylor (Captain), Ben Jenkins, Jamie Prisk, Todd Prisk, Cameron Bone, Sam Heath, Martyn Lawrance, Sam Carter, Grant Thirlby, Pete Mabbott, Tom Nicholas, Greg Loydall, Bobby Conroy-Smith, Lewis Thomas.

Replacements: Louis Stevens, Tony Stevens, Jamie Hoskin.