Midlands 5 East (South) Deepings 43 St Ives 12 SAINTS continued their season with a disappointing defeat to the league leaders. The visitors travelled with a much-changed team including an almost completely new set of backs in anticipation of a hard-foug

Midlands 5 East (South)

Deepings 43 St Ives 12

SAINTS continued their season with a disappointing defeat to the league leaders.

The visitors travelled with a much-changed team including an almost completely new set of backs in anticipation of a hard-fought contest.

Deepings capitalised on early confusion in the St Ives ranks to score out wide after the visitors conceded a soft penalty.

The setback galvanised the visitors and a series of good set pieces enabled fly half Jack Blackley to mount some good attacks and level the scores in the corner.

However, by the end of the first half the half-asleep Saints had gifted the hosts two soft tries and lost Blackley to a twisted ankle.

Confusion reigned in the backs and Deepings scored twice more to make it 29-5 at half time.

Shortly before the interval, a home player had been sin-binned for a spear tackle on Matt Ball and Saints aimed to take advantage early in the second period.

Indeed, some good passages of play and powerful rucking allowed flanker Ollie Scott to dive in unopposed under the Deeping posts.

St Ives continued to dominate but a further try eluded them and the loss of Mark Houlden to concussion helped the home side run in two further tries to finish the game 43-12 winners.

Saints captain Pete Hammond said: "I didn't feel the final scoreline reflected the way we had played.

"Our rucking and mauling was generally good but at times, our tackling left a lot to be desired.

"Silly mistakes cost us but there are positives to take from the performance."

* Next up for St Ives is a home game against Biggleswade on Saturday.