St Ives Roosters opened their season in dramatic fashion in the Coventry Bears Invitational 9's Tournament. An under strength Roosters, featuring three players making their first team debuts, reached the final of the competition. They pushed hosts Coventry all the way in a very bruising final before going down 12 - 6.
The Roosters opened the competition in the group stages against the hosts Coventry. St Ives went behind to an early score but battled back gamely. Debutant Ben Pinnion finished off a fine flowing move which was created by Jimmy Allen and Michael Drake. Allen converted the try to level scores in a tense end to the game. Coventry hit back strongly to score another converted try but there was a dramatic finale as Drake crossed the but dropped the ball as he was tackled.
Next up was a game against Wolverhampton Warlords. This resulted in a very comfortable win for the Roosters who scored 26 unanswered points against the midlands side. Michael Drake and Jamie Noble scored two tries each with Allen kicking three gaols and scoring a try himself.
This game was followed by a niggly game against North Derbyshire. Roosters scored early in the game through a good individual try from Oli Jones which was converted by Allen. The same combination increased the Roosters lead to make the score 12 - 0. St Ives finished the game off with further tries by Noble and Pinnion with Allen converting one score for a 22 - 0 win.
The Heavy Woollen Donkeys were an unknown quantity to the Roosters but the Northern side were quickly dispatched in a 30 - 0 win. Pinnion, David Sykes, Noble, Drake and Jones scored a try each with Allen kicking five goals.
The final group stage game was against Redditch Ravens. On paper this should have been a tough fixture for the Roosters but after scoring in the first minute the result was never in doubt. Drake opened the scoring with fine individual try which was converted by Allen. This score was followed by individual tries from Pinnion, Jones and Noble. Drake scored his second try of the game to finish the scoring. Allen kicked a further three goals.
The Roosters met Coventry Bears in the final. The Bears seemed more intent on "beating up" the Roosters who maintained their composure despite a lot of provocation. Repeated penalties against Coventry allowed the Roosters to open the scoring as Jones broke through the middle of their defence to score a fine individual try which was converted by Allen. The game then got very nasty as Roosters Paul Wilson was on the receiving end of "flying elbow" from a Coventry player. This resulted in a straight red card. With four minutes to go the Bears levelled the scores. Roosters were then reduced to 8 men as Sykes was sent off for a high tackle which appeared to be a very harsh decision. A tiring Roosters side held on right till the final minute but it was to no avail as Coventry scored a dramatic winning try under the posts.
Roosters Coach, Ian Hill, Commented "It was a great effort by the players who played very well in difficult conditions"