Deadly Fitch is the Saints pen friend

EDF Energy Junior Vase Round 2

St Neots 30 University of Derby 0

DESPITE their visitors playing at one level higher than them, Saints ran out convincing winners in this rugby union fixture.

The home pack dominated in all areas of the pitch but it was the boot of James Fitch that gave Saints the early lead from an easy penalty inside the 22.

St Neots could have been further ahead when an Adam Peel try was judged to have been held up over the line.

However, the home pack turned over the resulting scrum to give James Warmington his first push-over try of the day, converted by Fitch.

The remainder of the half continued in much the same way with the forwards giving the backs a good platform to work from, although the home side were unable to break the Derby defence in open play.

Another converted push-over try from Warmington, plus two penalties from Fitch, saw Saints head into half-time with a dominant 23-0 lead.

The hosts began the second period as they finished the first, although some poor decisions and greed by the pack hampered the scoring until Carl Breed foiled the Derby defence with an outrageous dummy pass and side-step to score under the posts.

Fitch converted to retain his 100 per cent kicking record for the day.

Meanwhile, St Neots II ran out 22-5 winners at Bugbrooke III in the first meeting between the clubs for several years.

Ross Wooding and Paul Wakefield combined well in the centre while flanker Tom Worboys defended resolutely as Saints triumphed.

Dean Lofty scored the opening try for the visitors with a characteristic run from deep.

Steve Gibson added the conversion, followed by a further three points shortly afterwards.

Stuart Miller set his brother Dan away for another try to make it 15-0 at half-time.

A Bugbrooke reply was quickly cancelled out by a Paul Wakefield try and Gibson conversion which completed the scoring.