Rugby League Conference Eastern Region St Ives Roosters 50 Greenwich Admirals 18 RETURNING England international Marco Rossi boosted St Ives as they secured their best result of the season so far. Coach Ian Hill was delighted by his side s commitment as

Rugby League Conference Eastern Region

St Ives Roosters 50 Greenwich Admirals 18

RETURNING England international Marco Rossi boosted St Ives as they secured their best result of the season so far.

Coach Ian Hill was delighted by his side's commitment as they produced a superb second half display to ensure a big win.

On the back of a disappointing defeat to Bedford last week, Saints got off to a bad start when the visitors took a 6-0 lead.

Two high tackles allowed James Shearman to pull a try back and Michael Sykes levelled with the conversion.

Roosters' Charles Paxton was sin-binned for lifting in the tackle, allowing Greenwich to re-take the lead with a clever grubber kick.

A penalty on 28 minutes extended the visitors' lead but a crucial score from Jack Blackley kept Saints in touch before Rossi surged through the defence to make the half-time score 14-all.

Turning to play uphill and into a strengthening wind in the second half, the Roosters could have been up against it, but instead rose to the challenge magnificently.

Just two minutes into the second period David Sykes and Rossi combined to set up substitute Jamie Noble to score.

Four minutes later it was Sykes involved again as he fed John Paxton, who offloaded to Shearman to score in the corner and give Roosters some breathing space.

Further pressure from St Ives saw the Admirals again on the retreat from the Roosters forwards with Andrew Dean scoring with a trademark dive at dummy half.

Greenwich rallied but were unable to make much ground against some ferocious hits from the Roosters forwards. On 65 minutes the Roosters scored again with the try of the game.

From an attack on the right the ball was rapidly switched to the left. Full back Michael Drake came up into the line and put a majestic pass out to Oli Moorhouse on the wing, who accelerated past the defence to score.

Three minutes later James Yeomans broke the Greenwich line and Michael Sykes scored in the right corner.

A few minutes later a hapless Admirals player was bundled over the touch line by swarming Roosters defenders.

From the following scrum the ball was popped out to Drake, who rocketed away to score.

Further tries from Michael Sykes and Charles Paxton, both converted by Jack Blackley, took the Roosters up to 50 points before Greenwich grabbed a consolation in the last minute.

Next week the Roosters face another crucial game away at Colchester.