St Ives ended their Midlands Division Three East (South) season on a high courtesy of a hard-fought, final-day victory.

The second-bottom Bulls came from behind to sink Northampton BBOB 15-9 at Somersham Road last Saturday.

They were unable to make the most of their dominance during the first period and found themselves trailing to a couple of penalties, but it was a different story after the interval as St Ives translated pressure into points.

Will Nelson marked his first senior start by darting over in the corner after smart work from Alex Henly and Max Dominy.

The latter couldn’t add the extras on that occasion but he did do the honours after Tommy Newman had gone over in the same corner for a second score.

And an exchange of penalties – a BBOB effort being cancelled out by a reply from Dominy – ensured the six-point cushion remained.

St Ives were without Ollie Bartlett as a failed fitness test ruined his ever-present record for the season, but there was a brief cameo from Graham Moffitt in his final appearance.

The final hurrah ensured St Ives finished 10 points clear of relegated local rivals St Neots, who saw their miserable season come to a painful conclusion last Saturday.

The bottom-of-the-table Saints were thumped 76-0 by Long Buckby at The Common.

They return to Midlands Division Four East (South) - a section they won with a 100 per cent record last term - for the 2016/17 campaign.