Valuable lessons learned from tight pre-season friendly for St Ives Rugby Club, writes Phil Brown.

For the many in attendance at Somersham Road, this was an atypical pre-season friendly. Both sides took the opportunity to test many combinations during the four quarters played. Usually this leads to scrappy play as players get used to each other, but the fare on offer was a tight fiercely contested encounter.

Playing with the slope in the first two quarters, Ives spent much of the time in their opponents’ half, but aggressive defence from the visitors kept them at bay for half an hour.

Bulls’ scrum was solid throughout the game, with Dan De’Ath giving no quarter to his opposite number, former Ives player Owen Miller. Tommy Newman was also enjoying himself with some storming runs.

Shelford’s breakdown work was a notch above the hosts’ both with and without the ball. Their eagerness to keep Ives out led to a series of offside penalties, which eventually led to Ives’ first try.

A kick to the corner led to a good lineout by Bulls’ forwards. A pre-planned move was anticipated by the Shelford scrum half, who knocked on an attempted interception. As so often happens, a bouncing ball disrupts defences and Connor Newsome swept forward with the recovered ball to score. Joe Cox added the extras.

Shelford were allowed back into the game as Ives own eagerness led to a series of penalties concessions at the breakdown. Granted great field position, Shelford maintained possession and finally breached the stretched Ives defence for a converted try.

There followed an extended period of stalemate with defences in the ascendancy. Up front, Newsome and Jack Hickman were felling runners like trees. Behind, a new look three quarter line saw Ollie Raine, Rees Burns and Alex Henly operating well together. Youngster Oliver Giglio again demonstrated that his presence in the senior ranks is likely to be for an extended period with another strong outing.

Veteran Mickey Drake, now part of the renewed coaching staff, made his first appearance for a while and showed he hadn’t forgotten how to manoeuvre the defence.

It was from a Shelford attack that Ives suddenly turned a switch. A loose ball was snaffled up with Jobey Wadd and Elliott Mortimer streaking up the touchline to finish just short of the line. The pressure was mounted with some great continuity and as Shelford found themselves with no numbers, Harry Smith crossed for a try.

The last 10 minutes was spent in Shelford’s third of the pitch, but neither side troubled the scoreboard further.

Final Score: St Ives - 12 - Shelford - 7.

DoR Duncan Williams commented, "This was another impressive performance from the senior group against a strong Shelford squad. Performances like this come from hard work and commitment from the players and high training numbers. A growing spirit is breeding an exciting environment where hopefully success can flourish."