Ives have wind in their sails after Boston win

RFU National Knockout Cup

Boston 16-29 St Ives

ST IVES made the most of the conditions to overcome Boston in the first round of the Knock-Out Cup on Saturday.

Choosing to play the first half into a difficult wind, captain Ross Thompson urged his charges forward from the start and James Wood was rewarded with an unconverted try.

The home side then hit back with a penalty and an unconverted try. Thompson was then sin-binned for 10 minutes and Boston stretched their lead with the penalty before the break.

The change of ends put the wind behind St Ives in the second half and they profited quickly when French flyer Emmanuel Houvert scored in the corner.

Ives hit a purple patch and Jerome Walters and Jim Robinson added tries. James Bell thought he had scored but saw his try chalked off for a forward pass.

Boston pulled a try back, but late in the game Houvert collected a clearance kick on the halfway line and showed a turn of speed to outrun the defence and cross for his second of the match.

St Ives II travelled to Ely with only 12 players and the home side loaned them a forward to balance the sides. In an even first half Tom Watts and captain Oliver Scott scored tries to level it at 10-10.

The second half saw the Saints in full flow as Watts added to his tally, Alex Henley added one and Scott made it a hat-trick. Dave McMinn added four conversions and a try as Saints won the day 43-20.

Club captain Ross Thompson said: “This is the second week where both our firsts and seconds have won their matches. Hopefully we can continue this early season form, but with two heavy fixture lists we are always looking for new players.”

St Ives I visit Wellingborough OG on Saturday.