St Ives Earn Hard Fought Win Over Lydney
St Ives 25 : 15 Lydney
Last Saturday at Alexandra Road St Ives welcomed Gloucestershire side Lydney in their latest South West One West league encounter.
A stiff breeze across the pitch welcomed both sides as they took to the field. Despite the difficult, windy conditions, St Ives stole the initiative and took the lead thanks to two penalty kicks from the boot of winger Dan Magee, in the 3rd and 10th minutes respectively to give the Hakes an early 6 points to nil lead.
Lydney reacted well to going behind and put together a period of play where they retained the ball well, penetrating deep into St Ives’ territory. Their efforts were rewarded in the 22nd minute when Nathan Tuck converted a penalty chance after a long period of pressure on the well drilled St Ives defence to make the score St Ives 6, Lydney 3.
The Gloucestershire side kept their momentum and continued to put pressure on the St Ives’ defence. The Hakes defence was working well and kept Lydney at bay until the 33rd minute when Lydney’s Mike Massey found space to cross for the try. Tuck converted to give Lydney a well-deserved lead by 10 points to 6.
As the first half entered its final moments it was St Ives who were on the attack. A good spell of pressure from the home side was finished off with a try from second row Jamie Prisk. This was converted by Magee to give St Ives the lead at the break by 13 points to 10.
As the second half began both sides looked to impose themselves on the game resulting in a period that kept the referee busy as he held a grip on proceedings. A yellow card for a St Ives player in the 46th minute and two for Lydney players in the 52nd and 54th minutes respectively saw both sides reduced in personnel.
With Lydney reduced to 13 players it was the home side that took control. Starting his first game at fly half for the Hakes, Adam Hosking managed the match and used his experience to launch a period of St Ives assaults on the Lydney defence that were to be instrumental in ensuring that St Ives came away from the match with a win.
Ben's Brace
In the 58th minute prop Ben Taylor powered his way over the try line for an unconverted try to put St Ives ahead by 18 points to 10. Once again, in the 70th minute, it was Taylor who crossed the whitewash for a try, this time assisted by a latch from replacement prop Ben Jenkins, which the Lydney defence had no chance to defend despite their best efforts. Sam Carter converted to add the extra points to give the Hakes a 15 point lead.
With the win secure at 25 points to 10 St Ives had to defend in the last play of the match. To their credit the Lydney players never gave up and scored a well-deserved consolation try through Matt Williams that went unconverted to make the final score St Ives 25, Lydney 15.
This result sees the Hakes move into joint third place in the South West One West league table, equal on points with Somerset side Bridgwater & Albion.
This coming Saturday the Hakes are back in action in the Cornwall Knockout Cup. The semi-final tie at home against Saltash kicks off at Alexandra Road at 2:00pm. Come along and cheer the Hakes as they bid to make it to the cup final for the second season in a row. After the game in the clubhouse the Ireland v England Six Nations game will be screened at 16:45.
St Ives: Ben Taylor, Sam Vernon, Leigh Hocking, Jamie Prisk, Ben Watson, Chris Quick, Connor Bick, Martyn Lawrance, Sam Carter, Adam Hosking, Dan Magee, Grant Thirlby, Tom Nicholas (Captain), Peter Mabbott, Jack Kessell.
Replacements: Ben Jenkins, Liam Jolly, Joe Parma (All Used).
