Neots defeated by Stamford but Ives beat the Old Boys

Saturday’s Midlands Four East South reports

ST NEOTS came off second best against well-drilled title chasers Stamford in Midlands Four East South at the Common on Saturday.

The hosts conceded an unconverted try in the opening minutes but rallied to sneak in front on the half-hour, when scrum-half Will Hall found captain Adam Porter and the fly-half produced a powerful run to cross line for a try, which was converted to make it 7-5.

A late penalty in the first half gave the visitors a slender one-point lead going into the break, but Hall’s penalty soon had Neots back in front at 10-8.

After an hour of play, a combination of losing influential players Rhodri Howcroft and Sam Peel - and Stamford moving up a gear – proved costly for Saints.

Stamford began to dominate and pull away and, despite a last-gasp try saving tackle from Hall, the visitors still managed to score five times in the final 20 minutes.

Saints, who are without a league game this weekend, go to Stamford College Old Boys next weekend.

Elsewhere in the division, St Ives ran out 21-17 winners over Stamford College Old Boys at Somersham Road on Saturday.

Star of the show was Stuart Cornwall, who bagged himself two tries and three conversions.

Both of his tries came inside the opening 15 minutes to put Ives 14-0 ahead and, after the visitors grabbed an unconverted score of their own before the break, John Paxton went over in the second half – Cornwall again converting to make it 21-5.

The remainder of the game saw Ives on the back foot as the visitors mounted a comeback charge, but it proved too little, too late.

Stamford are in town to face St Ives this weekend.