Head coach Phil Brown is backing his terrific St Ives team to follow up one piece of history with another memorable milestone.

The Bulls lifted the Midlands Senior Vase for the first time last Saturday when beating Long Eaton 19-8 in the final at Somersham Road.

Brown described his side’s success as a ‘bonus’ in a season in which their goal has always been to secure Midlands Division One East (South) promotion.

It’s a bonus which could include a trip to Twickenham for St Ives in early May for the national Senior Vase final if they can come through a play-off clash against Northern Senior Vase winners Wath Upon Dearne on March 31.

Brown said: “Promotion has always been our clear target for the season, but it is absolutely fantastic to have won the Midlands Senior Vase for the first time. I can’t praise the guys enough.

“I told them before the game last Saturday that reaching this final was their bonus and to make sure they enjoyed every minute of it.

“There are guys who have been at the club since they were nine or 10 years old and their faces were a picture after the game.

“I don’t mind admitting we all celebrated pretty hard. Getting to Twickenham would be another wonderful bonus on top!

“It was a truly great day, but it is now history in more than one sense. We have to look forward and ensure we hit that objective of being promoted to Level 7 for the first time.”

That could mathematically happen as soon as this Saturday if the table-toppers can triumph at Stockwood Park, but the Bulls will be without a number of players for the trip to Luton due to stand-off Mickey Drake’s wedding taking place on the same day!

Final report and pictures: page ??