ROYSTON Rugby Club s pre-season campaign kicked on in impressive fashion on Saturday with a convincing 59-5 win over St Ives. The benefits of the club s new training regime were evident from the start, and they displayed some elegant running rugby, togeth

ROYSTON Rugby Club's pre-season campaign kicked on in impressive fashion on Saturday with a convincing 59-5 win over St Ives.

The benefits of the club's new training regime were evident from the start, and they displayed some elegant running rugby, together with well organised set pieces which looked like they had been honed on the training pitch.

In total Royston ran in nine tries, converting seven.

Royston head coach Luke Green, a former St Ives player, was pleased with their performance, and said he was close to finalising his starting line up ahead of the club's opening league match against Watford on September 15.

Green said: "The team held up extremely well in the hot conditions.

"There are a number of areas to work on, and the team can only get better and better with match practice.

"I've already got a good idea of who I want in the first team, but all the lads have been training hard, so I might have to have a bit of a rethink.

"There's good competition for places, and most importantly, we have players with different strengths who can come in depending on the situation."

Green also revealed that there will be a multi-cultural feel to his squad this season.

He said: "We're training at Bassingbourn Barracks at the moment, and we've had a few of the soldiers ask if they can join us, so they're in contention too.

"We've now got players from places such as Fiji and New Zealand, and they bring different skills and experiences which can only benefit the team."

Michael Schurch caught the eye against St Ives, scoring a hat-trick of tries and successfully kicking seven out of eight conversion attempts.

Scrum-half Jack Sirrett was at his commanding best, while Richard Gutteridge was named man of the match after turning out for both sides.

The prop played one half for Royston, and the other for St Ives, who were able to muster only 14 men for the game, and had to be supplemented by a succession of Royston forwards.

Royston assistant coach Kevin Green said: "The hard work in training was evident, and despite early season rustiness, the team played very well to the game plan, with full-blooded open rugby."

Royston's next pre-season game is against Cantabridgian on Saturday.