St Ives enjoyed a high-scoring return to the Midlands Senior Vase – by thumping a team they last played in the late 1980s.

The Bulls powered to a 45-19 victory at Lincolnshire side Spalding last Saturday in the first round of a competition they haven’t graced since 2013.

It is considerably longer since they last faced these particular opponents, and they quickly set about piling up the points.

Albiee Tayedzerwa, Jack Blackley and Paul Ashbridge all touched down for tries in the opening period as St Ives eased into a 20-12 advantage at the break.

Their lead was reduced to a single point by a converted Spalding score early in the second half, but St Ives soon regained the upper hand and helped themselves to four further tries.

Tommy Newman marked his return from a long layoff with the first of them before Tayedzerwa went over for a second time on the day.

Newman then matched that feat before skipper Ollie Bartlett got in on the act with John Naylor sending over the conversion to register his first points for the club.

Ashbridge earlier kicked two penalties and a conversion as the Bulls made smooth progress with first XV debutant Gabriel Edwards impressing thanks to a series of crunching tackles.

St Ives host Leicester Forest at Somersham Road in Midlands Division Three East (South) this Saturday.