Hakes off to winning start
St Ives 22 : 20 Bude
The Hakes secured a narrow 22-20 victory against Bude in a gritty contest that showcased the team’s resilience and determination.
The match began with the Hakes’ pack asserting their dominance early on. A powerful driving maul led by James Curnow culminated in a well-deserved try, marking his league debut with a score. Jack Keogh added the extras, putting St Ives ahead 7-0.
Bude responded with a penalty, closing the gap to 7-3, as both teams battled for control.
In the second half, Chris Warren, who was everywhere on the pitch today, won a crucial lineout. After a series of phases close to the line, Warren himself powered over for a try, extending the Hakes’ lead to 12-3. Although the conversion was missed, the back row trio of Warren, Sean Stevens, and Lucas were relentless, tackling tirelessly and making life difficult for Bude.
Adam Harris then produced a moment of magic, dancing through the pack from 35 meters out to score a stunning solo try, putting the Hakes up 17-3. However, Bude wasn’t ready to back down.
Bude answered back with a try under the posts after a series of pick-and-goes in the 22, bringing the score to 17-10 after the successful conversion. Another try in the corner from Bude narrowed the gap further to 17-15, but the missed conversion kept the Hakes ahead.
As the pressure mounted, the Hakes’ backs executed brilliantly from a scrum in Bude’s 22. A fantastic pass from Keogh set up Basset, who finished strongly in the old scoreboard corner, making it 22-15. The missed conversion left the door open for Bude.
Bude struck again with more pick-and-goes near the line, scoring a try to make it 22-20. But crucially, they missed the conversion that would have leveled the match.
The front row of the Hakes deserves special mention for their scrummaging prowess, showing dominance at the set piece throughout the game. James Curnow, who also stood out for his try and consistent impact throughout the match, was deservedly named Man of the Match.
Despite the close scoreline and a few missed opportunities, the Hakes held on for a narrow victory.
While it wasn’t the prettiest game, Director of Rugby Stevens will be pleased with the bonus point win. However, there will be plenty to work on in training this week as the Hakes prepare for a local derby against Penryn next week.
Additionally, the second team fixture was conceded by Penryn 2s before the match kicked off, granting the Hakes 5 points. However, a game was still played with 13 a side, allowing the players to get a valuable run out. Reuben Dorean-Mitchell was named Man of the Match for the second team, putting in an impressive performance.
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