PLEASED Roosters director of coaching Ian Hill says there is still more to come from his side after they made it back-to-back wins in Rugby League Conference East at Northampton Demons A on Saturday.

Rugby League Conference East

Northampton Demons A 22

St Ives Roosters 34

PLEASED Roosters director of coaching Ian Hill says there is still more to come from his side after they made it back-to-back wins in Rugby League Conference East at Northampton Demons A on Saturday.

It followed on from last weekend’s season-opening win over Bury Titans and Hill said: “It’s always hard to get a result against any Northampton side – as they have strength in depth – so I’m very happy with the win.

“We played well in patches, which was expected due to the changes to the squad, but we still have a lot of work to do to reach the level we are capable of playing.”

Injuries and unavailability meant that Roosters had to make six changes to the side, while player coach Paul Ashbridge was dropped from the squad for disciplinary reasons.

But things began well for the visitors at Demon Park as they went 10-0 up after 10 minutes thanks to a simple try from Jamie Noble, with Steven Baskerville converting.

Then Northampton’s indiscipline resulted in another penalty playing a part in the Roosters’ next try. The penalty for a high tackle was exploited by Tim Lumley Good, whose powerful surge towards the line was capitalised on and the ball played to David Sykes, who crossed close to the line.

Some sleepy defending allowed the home side back into the game, resulting in a converted score, before Noble added his second try – a fine individual effort, which was once again converted by the willing boot of Baskerville.

Before the break, youngster Jake Peattie outpaced the Demons’ defence to score in corner to make the score 16-6 while another converted try from the hosts meant Roosters led 20-12 at half time.

That lead was reduced to just two points early in the second period when indiscipline allowed Northampton another converted try.

Roosters finally settled down and the game breaker was down to an unusual score from Jack Blackley.

He made an excellent break in the middle of the pitch and tried to beat the Northampton full back on the outside.

Blackley’s deceptively slow pace seemed to confuse the full-back who ended up tripping over his own feet.

This allowed an easy run in for Blackley to score his first try in three years for the club.

The game wrapped up on 58 minutes when Ashley Eusden out-jumped a Demon winger to score with ease, before Noble then sprinted away to complete his hat-trick.

Plucky Northampton added the final score of the game, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Roosters taking the points home.

They are next in league action on Saturday, June 4 on the road at Bedford Tigers who, along with Roosters and Sudbury Gladiators, have also started the Rugby League Conference East season in excellent form with two wins out of two.