ST IVES FEAST MATCH

St Ives 17, Cornwall Clubs' XV 36

TEENAGE St Ives lock Tom Chandler scored a hat-trick of tries but still ended up on the losing side in the annual Feast Monday game at Alexandra Road, writes Nigel Walrond.

The Hakes' opposition this year was provided by a Cornwall Clubs' XV made up of players from Saltash, Perranporth, St Agnes and Camelford.

St Ives fielded a youthful development side, handing senior debuts to several of their Colts team, and they were joined by other members of this season's first team.

The game was played in very misty conditions in front of a good-sized crowd, with St Ives Mayor Ron Tulley kicking off the contest in time-honoured tradition.

The Clubs' XV began the game in determined fashion, with pacy Saltash centre Richard Skinnard breaking through to score a fine individual try after only two minutes.

The youthful Hakes struggled to get a foothold in the match, and the more experienced visitors continued to apply pressure.

The powerful runs of the Clubs' back line were proving too much for St Ives, and with only half an hour of the match gone, they had run in five tries, with Skinnard again (10 minutes), Jamie Watkins (12), Sam Sargent (22) and Matt Cross (30) crossing, with all four converted by full-back Max Venables to give the visitors a commanding 33-0 lead.

The last few minutes of the half saw the St Ives players begin to apply some pressure of their own and, following some excellent work by the forwards, 19-year-old Chandler picked up the ball on the blindside and used his pace to score in the corner.

Five minutes before the break, Venables slotted a penalty to extend the visitors' lead to 36-5, but two minutes later, a catch-and-drive line-out was finished off by Chandler, with Jacob Ninnes converting, to make the scoreline 36-12 at the interval.

The Hakes piled on the pressure early in the second half in an attempt to get back into the game, but the visitors' defence stayed firm.

The half remained scoreless until the 80th minute, when man of the match Chandler popped up from behind a ruck on the visitors' five-metre line to force his way over to complete his treble.

St Ives head coach Joff Rowe said: "The Feast game was supported magnificently, not only by the town of St Ives but also by the Cornwall Junior Group and the young St Ives squad.

"The game was high tempo and extremely physical, with both sides showing a high level of determination and courage.

"My thanks go to the St Ives Mayor and the Cornwall Junior Group and their committee, and to the club and players for their support for this fixture.

"Well done to the senior Colts, who responded fantastically to the occasion, and to Tom Chandler, who was outstanding."

St Ives have a blank Saturday this weekend after pulling out of their scheduled Intermediate Cup match with Kingsbridge a couple of weeks ago, due to problems raising a side.

Their league game against Tiverton, postponed last weekend, is likely to take place on March 17.

St Ives: Peters, Palmer, Sherris, Nicholas, A Rowe, Ninnes, N Perkin, Tonkin, Taylor (capt), L Trudgeon, Jenkins, Chandler, S Stevens, Anderson-Smith, Pascoe. Replacements all used: T Stevens, Wheeler, S Perkin, R Rowe, Usher, Kean, Brigly, Loake.

Scorers: St Ives: Tries: Chandler (3); Con: Ninnes. Cornwall Clubs: R Skinnard (2), Watkins, Sargent, Cross; Cons: Venables (4); Pen: Venables.

CORNWALL & DEVON LEAGUE

Hayle 37, Liskeard-Looe 3

HAYLE earned a convincing victory as they ran in seven tries in testing conditions at the Memorial Park.

Excellent teamwork saw hooker Neal Turner claim a brace of tries on 12 and 18 minutes, and Liskeard's replacement fly-half replied with a penalty on the half hour to reduce the arrears to 10-3.

There were no further scores in the first half, but the home side added five tries in the second half through flanker Tony Matthews, centre Rob Goodman, left wing Tom Murray (2) and right wing Talan Daniels.

The final score would have been much larger had the conditions been more conducive to place kicking, as fly-half Jamie Prisk only managed one conversion from seven attempts.

Hayle travel to Crediton this Saturday in the RFU Senior Vase.

CORNWALL ONE

St Just 40, Roseland 3

IN a weekend which saw the league programme decimated by the weather, St Just moved up to second in the table after Saturday's comprehensive win.

They made the perfect start, in the opening two minutes, opening the scoring through a line-out catch-and-drive from Ed McFadden.

Roseland responded through a Shaun Eamer penalty.

But before the break St Just pulled clear with two tries from Nick Hitchens and Josh Semmens, who also converted.

Semmens added to the scoring after the break with a try, before converting tries by Jamie Leah and Hitchens.

St Just were scheduled to play leaders Saltash this Saturday, but due to their RFU Junior Vase tie at home to Salcombe, the game will now be played on Saturday March 24.