St Ives Roosters captain Mickey Blackley admits the club’s season needs a ‘kick up the backside’.

The local lads slumped to a 54-16 defeat at St Albans Centurions in the East Premier League last Saturday.

Tries from Rhod Howcroft, Dave Sykes and Tommy Newman were of little consolation to Roosters as they again failed to collect a first positive away result of the season.

The heavy loss leaves them occupying fourth place – the final play-off spot – in a six-team division, but Blackley expects better.

He admitted: “It’s very frustrating because we’re unbeaten at home but our away form has been really poor.

“It comes down to availability, which has always been a problem in previous seasons, but seems to be even more of an issue in the current one.

“But it is still in our hands to reach the play-offs so we have to stay positive and hope we can maintain our good home form.

“We do have some talented youngsters becoming available for the next few games after finishing exams and hopefully they can provide the kick up the backside that our season needs.”

Tom Johnson, George Peacock, Will Nelson and Tom Evans, who are all 17, are set to feature when Roosters return to action at Brentwood Eels on July 16.