ST Ives Rooseters will face Milton Keynes Wolves at One Leisure in the semi finals of the London & South East Conference Plate on Saturday after beating Southampton Spitfires in their quarter final at St Albans.

St Ives met Southampton half way for their ‘away’ tie and beat the south coast club 38-20 at the new home of the St Albans Centurians.

However, they almost missed the match: kick off was delayed by 15 minutes with the Roosters heading for the host’s former ground before discovering their mistake.

Jack Peattie opened the scoring after some even early exchanges with the ‘home’ side getting a try back soon after. Adam Peel scored St Ives’ second try but once again the Roosters let the Spitfires back into the game and the score was level again.

Jamie Noble and David Sykes were next over the line for the Roosters with Adam Smith getting another try and Lewis Hall converting his own after a patchy first half performance from usual kicker Max Dominy.

Southampton got another try back at the start of the second half but fresh Roosters legs made the difference with Stu Castle and Oliver Bartlett both introduced from the substitutes’ bench.

With the ‘home’ side down to ten men, Peel grabbed his second try of the game, coach Paul Ashbiridge converted his own, and Noble added another – a try almost identical to his first.

“As always we showed a good attacking display which was just too powerful for our opponents,” said Ashbridge. “However, we shot ourselves in the foot really, not finishing off chances we created and not completing tackles.

“Sill mistakes in defence could have cost us today with the conditions as they were and it could have gone either way.

“But we are now in the semi finals and I’m proud of the guys for giving their all over the 80 minutes.”