Midlands 5E(S) --- Aylestone Athletic 8-13 St Ives RFC --- ST IVES completed a perfect season with a battling victory over Leicester Aylestone. St Ives had beaten their hosts 12-0 at Somersham Road in the return fixture, and made it eight wins from eigh

Midlands 5E(S) ---

Aylestone Athletic 8-13 St Ives RFC ---

ST IVES completed a perfect season with a battling victory over Leicester Aylestone.

St Ives had beaten their hosts 12-0 at Somersham Road in the return fixture, and made it eight wins from eight games in Midlands 5E(S).

Aylestone set about disrupting the St Ives rhythm from the first whistle, but a break from James Woods saw the first try go to Ives, though it went unconverted.

Continued pressure by the visitors against a stretched Aylestone defence eventually led to another Ives score with Adam Scott crossing the line to touch down.

Aylestone regrouped and came out the stronger after the break. St Ives conceded penalty after penalty, forcing themselves back onto their own try-line for long periods and it came as no surprise when they conceded a try.

After another penalty the gap was reduced to two points, with Woods sent to the sin bin for persistent infringements.

Ives showed their strength to prevent Aylestone from capitalising on their man advantage, and with only five minutes left Paul Ashbridge was able to convert a penalty to take the score to 8-13.

Ashbridge said: "It was good to go there and win - Aylestone didn't make it easy but the guys were up for a good game, as we didn't want to throw away a perfect season.

"It shows that all the hard effort the boys and coaches put in pays off, to finish a season undefeated.