A pre-season 10s rugby tournament has proved a winning initiative for game-hungry players.

Hunts and Peterborough Rugby introduced the idea to alleviate fixture congestion.

Players from four local teams - Deepings, Peterborough Lions, St. Ives, and Thorney - battled for the annual trophy, which was scooped up by Ives' second team squad on August 17.

Despite an early morning start, the buoyant team, which included two newcomers, beat the Peterborough Lions by four tries to two.

Explosive tries by Harry Smith, Jobie Wadd, Henry Stancombe, Oliver Giglio and Rees Burns contributed to their triumphant win.

Dan Hawkins and Charlie Mandley managed to maintain control of the midfield while Jack Hickman shone in the lineout.

Director of Rugby Duncan Williams expressed his delight after the match.

He said: “It was encouraging to see our young players with ambitions of breaking into the first team perform so well against higher level opposition.

"They have taken on our new style of play unbelievably quickly.

"We are happy to have won the H&P cup, but for this talented group it certainly won't be their greatest achievement."

(Image: Phil Brown)