ST NEOTS put their St Ives derby drubbing behind them by returning to winning ways with a thumping 65-17 home win over struggling Westwood in Midlands Four East South on Saturday.

ST NEOTS put their St Ives derby drubbing behind them by returning to winning ways with a thumping 65-17 home win over struggling Westwood in Midlands Four East South on Saturday.

This, after two straight defeats, including that 34-15 reverse at Somersham Road last weekend, moved the Saints back up into fifth in the table above their local rivals.

They opened the scoring following a well executed line out, with fly-half Adam Porter finding a gap - a move that was repeated, with the same result, a few minutes later.

Try number three was all about the forwards as Joe Sales, Ollie Emanuel and Phill Fernie combined, with the latter racing half the length of the field to score under the posts.

Not to be outdone, the backs then produced their own score, going the whole length of the field, with centre Harry Gilam drawing defenders before passing to Martyn Allen who exchanged passes with wing Adam Peel, who raced away and score under the posts.

With confidence high the next St Neots attack saw Porter and Peel switch in midfield, the gap opened and Porter carved through and passed to hooker Phil Sandling in close support for his first score of the season.

Westwood then staged a mini fight back and managed to get two scores on the board before half time, but the hosts went in 27-10 in front.

In the second period, 18-year-old Emanuel scored his first try for the team, Allen scored another after wingers Wakeford and Adam Peel had terrorised the Westwood defenders with their pace, before Adam Peel returned a failed drop goal attempt by Westwood, to run in a try from his own 22.

Porter then managed to get his third try of the day and lock Rhodri Howcroft crashed over the line for a well deserved try.

The final play of the day saw Saints’ forwards and backs combine to score a textbook try in the corner by Wakeford.

This weekend, St Neots host ninth-placed Stamford College Old Boys.