A much-changed St Ives Rugby Club scored seven tries on their way to a bruising 47-29 bonus point win against a challenging Rushden & Higham.

Only seven points separated the two sides at half time, but the Bulls were at their free-flowing best after the break to ensure they came out on top in the end-to-end twelve-try thriller.

Head coach Paul Humphreys said: "Five points on the road are always welcome.

The Hunts Post: Connor Newsome rises highest at the lineout to claim possession. Connor Newsome rises highest at the lineout to claim possession. (Image: Brian Gates)

"We dogged out a win, ensuring we rook the maximum we could from the game.

"Our inaccuracies and unusual panic play meant we struggled to get any real momentum in the first half, but when we did string a few phases together, we looked dangerous and scored."

Rushden got off to a fast start in bizarre circumstances when Ives awaited a penalty from advantage, the opposition winger scooped up the ball and scored a try under the posts for a 7-0 lead.

The Hunts Post: Sam Vivers stepped in at hooker for the fixtures and scored St Ives' first try of the game. Sam Vivers stepped in at hooker for the fixtures and scored St Ives' first try of the game. (Image: Brian Gates)

Both sides then played out some fluid attacking rugby, with defences often easily beaten, as Sam Vivers and Callum Smy scored either side of a Rushden try to make it 14-14.

Pressure began to tell on Rushden's defence when they frantically cleared the ball from a Connor Newsome grubber straight down Ollie Raine's throat, who cantered across the whitewash to score.

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Rushden responded with a try soon after from a quickly taken penalty before good defence forced a turnover and allowed Smy to score a second try.

With Will Sutton converting three of the tries, the half time score was a 26-19 lead.

The Hunts Post: Ciaran Russell releases the ball to set the backs running. Ciaran Russell releases the ball to set the backs running. (Image: Brian Gates)

The end-to-end game continued after the break, with Newsome touching down for St Ives and the Rushden winger grabbing a second from a fine cross-field kick.

However, St Ives managed to create some daylight between the sides with the try of the game from a lineout in their own half.

Skipper John Paxton jinked his way over the gain line and fed Raine, who was on hand to sprint down the wing, which was followed by two inside passes, leaving Ben Fleming with one man to beat, who he stepped to score under the posts for a 40-24 scoreline.

Rushden capitalised on a Matt Wood yellow card to score and reduce the gap to 40-29, but Ives had the last laugh, with Raine scoring his second and the game's final try.

With Sutton unerring with the boot, scoring six out of seven conversions, the Bulls travelled home happy with a 47-29 victory, cementing their third-placed position in the Counties 2 Midlands East (South) division ahead of a week's break.