St Ives Put the Boot into Wellington
Wellington 5 v 48 St Ives
Last Saturday the St Ives 1st XV travelled to Somerset to play Wellington in their latest Western Counties West league game.
Head Coach Paul Thirlby was forced into several changes. Sean Stevens started his first game at hooker, Joel Stevens being injured from last week. Captain Ben Taylor continued at prop, with Tom Chandler unavailable, and Ben Jenkins returned to the front row. Joe Parma stated at full back with Jordan Gott moving to the wing. Tom Nicholas was available again and started in the centre alongside Steve Kenward. Joe Rouncefield, making his first appearance since last December against Crediton and Mark Eager were named among the replacements. The latter became the 41st player to represent the Hakes this season.
St Ives got off to a strong start and took the lead after only 2 minutes when Jordan Gott successfully kicked a penalty chance. It was Gott himself that finished off a slick move by the St Ives back line in the 10th minute, which he also converted to give the Hakes a 10 points to nil lead.
The St Ives players kept up a sustained period of pressure on the home side and in the 24th minute it was Tom Nicholas who finished things off with a try. Again Gott converted to put St Ives 17 points up with no reply.
The last 10 minutes of the first half saw St Ives get a grip of the game that they would not let go of for the rest of the match and also the heavens opened in biblical proportions making playing conditions difficult for the remainder of the half. In the 32nd minute it was Jordan Gott again this time with a fine individual try which he converted to put St Ives 24 points to nil ahead. This try makes Gott not only the top point’s scorer, but also the top try scorer, with a total of nine. He is also the only player with a 100% record in league appearances. What a terrific season he has had. Only 4 minutes later it was scrum half Dan Rutter who grabbed the Hakes 4th and bonus point try to make it 29 points to nil.
St Ives was in dominant mood despite the rain and next to score was number 8 Martyn Lawrance who crossed for the try in typical powerful fashion. The conversion was missed but only 2 minutes later it was hooker Sean Stevens who brought the first half to a close with a try which was converted once again by Gott to make the half time score Wellington nil, St Ives 41.
When the second half began the heavy rain had eased leaving a pitch littered with puddles to ensure that each time the players went to ground it was quite literally a splash down. Despite the conditions the St Ives players continued to dominate early in the second half and Martyn Lawrance grabbed his second try of the match in only the 41st minute to put St Ives 48 points to nil up.
The rest of the match saw Wellington re-group and put the St Ives players under pressure for long periods in the remainder of the game. In the 48th minute they were rewarded with an un-converted try through Sandy Kiddle. To their credit the Wellington players never gave up, but the St Ives players were too strong for them in both defence and attack.
The referee brought the game to a close with the final score Wellington 5, St Ives 48, a score that looked anything but likely, the home side having achieved an away win at Sidmouth the week before.
This result sees St Ives stay in 6th place in the league, but move to only one point behind North Cornwall side Wadebridge, who were comprehensively beaten at high flying Cullompton, which is, incidentally, the venue for St Ives’ last match of the season in two weeks.
The Hakes now look forward to their last home game of the season this coming Saturday at Alexandra Road, against Crediton. Kick off in St Ives is scheduled for 3:00pm; any home support would be very welcome.
St Ives : Ben Taylor, Sean Stevens, Ben Jenkins, Jamie Prisk, Harry Parton, Pete Mabbott, Archie Mackay, Martyn Lawrance, Dan Rutter, Grant Thirlby, Lewis Thomas, Steve Kenward, Tom Nicholas, Jordan Gott, Joe Parma.
Replacements: Peter Skeggs, Joe Rouncefield, Mark Eager (All Used)
