ST Ives Roosters maintained their 100 per cent Conference East record with a hard-fought 56-8 win at Bury Titans at the weekend.

Coach Paul Ashbridge scored a hat trick of tries in the win but it was from the back that director of rugby Ian Hill felt the game had been won. “Once again we put on a very good attacking display - but overall our defence today was the outstanding feature of our game,” he said.

The Roosters opened the scoring after five minutes when Adam Peel powered over the line, but Bury hit back after the Roosters had conceded three consecutive penalties. Roosters re-took the lead after a great handling move following which Ashbridge brushed aside tackles to score under the posts with Lewis Hall converting.

The lead was extended 10 minutes later when Michael Drake stepped through the Titans’ defence to provide Hall with another easy conversion. Four minutes later another good handling move led to David Gamble crashing over the line from close range and Hall once again converting to make the score 22-4.

St Ives wrapped up the first-half scoring when Drake got his second try after breaking the line to cross under the posts for Hall to convert.

The start of the second half was a repeat of the first with both sides scoring unconverted tries. The Roosters scored first when Hall outpaced the Bury defence. Roosters then failed to deal with a well-executed chip into the in-goal area.

After having two tries disallowed the Roosters sealed the game on 58 minutes when Ashbridge broke the Bury defence and outpaced the chasing pack. Hall added the extras to give the Roosters a 38-8 lead.

A break by Drake two minutes later set up David Sykes to cross from short range. Hall converted. Ashbridge then completed his hat trick with 10 minutes to go with another powerful run and side step which Hall once again converted.

The final try of the game came from Adam Smith - the powerful forward’s run setting him up to crash over the line with Hall finishing with a points tally of 20 from his final kick of the game.

Meanwhile, Roosters have been drawn to play Southampton Spitfires in the quarter finals of the Rugby League Conference Plate Competition.

Because of the distance between the two clubs, the game will be played at Hemel Stags’ ground in Hemel Hempstead on Saturday June 16 (2.30pm).