They say the formbook goes out of the window in derby clashes . . . not at Somersham Road last Saturday it didn’t.
The second Midlands Division Three East (South) duel of the campaign between St Ives and St Neots went exactly as expected.
A home side, enjoying their best-ever season, made light work of local rivals who are heading for relegation by dishing out a 91-0 drubbing.
St Ives ran in a staggering 14 tries while shutting out their visitors.
Max Dominy guided over 10 of his conversion attempts during his first appearance since October.
David Raine needed only a matter of minutes to become the first Bulls man to touch-down, but St Neots responded well to put their hosts under pressure during their best spell of the game.
But, having weathered that brief storm, St Ives quickly gained full control with six more tries before the break.
Will Nelson grabbed two of them with Paul Ashbridge, George Peacock and Raine also going over before Albie Tayedzerwa was the beneficiary of a brilliant Matt Wood tip-on.
But the Bulls did not sit back on their 46-point cushion. In fact, they came within a single point of doubling it in the second period as they showed their struggling visitors no mercy.
Ashbridge quickly completed his hat-trick and that feat was soon matched by Raine following more smart handling across the pitch.
Wood bundled his way over following a five-metre scrum before Raine split the St Neots defence to dash in for his fourth score. He wasn’t done there, either.
Raine, who complained about being forced to play at centre, ran in his fifth try before Josh Meadows completed a huge St Ives haul by scampering through late on. And while he was delighted by completing a derby double, captain Josh Dear urged his St Ives players to keep their performance levels high for the remainder of the campaign.
“We still have work to do to secure third spot in the table. We have three games to go and great training and performances are definitely going to be needed,” added Dear.
St Ives go to bottom side Aylestone St James this Saturday while life looks set to get even tougher for St Neots – they visit leaders Stewart & Lloyds.
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