Biggleswade 8-10 St Ives --- ST IVES made amends for a defeat to Biggleswade earlier in the season with a win bolstered by the return of several first-team players. St Ives began strongly and quickly found their way into the hosts 22 after some good for

Biggleswade 8-10 St Ives ---

ST IVES made amends for a defeat to Biggleswade earlier in the season with a win bolstered by the return of several first-team players.

St Ives began strongly and quickly found their way into the hosts' 22 after some good forward play, and quick ball out to the backs, where the returning Paul Ashbridge threw an outrageous dummy to open up the home defence and score under the posts before adding the conversion himself.

St Ives continued with the pressure and narrowly missed two chances to increase the advantage. As Ives pressed again Jim Lewsham became isolated and was robbed by the opposition who ran in an unconverted try to cut Ives' lead to 7-5 at the break.

Biggleswade added a penalty early in the second period but Ives looked the stronger and with Jon Clarke and Steve Burke in control, the pressure finally told on the overworked Biggleswade defence.

With 10 minutes left and St Ives on the attack a great dummy run by Jim Robinson saw him tackled without the ball. The Biggleswade centre was given time in the sin bin and Ashbridge kicked the penalty to give Ives a lead they held until the final whistle.

Despite Ives' large share of the ball, Ashbridge was frustrated his team had not put more points on the board: "We made it hard for ourselves at times, by having the majority of possession and territory but just not being able to execute that last pass to score.

"It became very frustrating and so we started giving away penalties, but the guys stuck at it and came away with the win."

Ives now sit in fifth position in Midlands League (South) A, just a point behind Biggleswade. St Neots remain in second place following a 29-15 victory over bottom club Westwood.