Ely Tigers travelled to Ipswich YM on Saturday with yet another much changed starting 15, with the bench, possibly the oldest they have named for a while, and the replacements came into action as early as the fifth minute as Tom Green was replaced with John Dibb.
In a tight first half it was Ely that looked to cross the line first, but George Newnham was adjudged to have been held up, on the next attack Tigers crossed the try line, when a break from Newnham, who passed the ball out to Dibb who found Alfie Ramswell who crossed over in the corner. Jake Alsop was unable to add the conversion points, the home side drew level soon after the Tigers try, making the most of space out on the wing the cross the line in the corner, despite a last ditched tackle from Matt McCarthy, despite the windy conditions the conversion was added as the home side took the lead.
The penalty count against Ely was totting up and it was costing Tigers the chance to apply pressure in the right areas, and it was from a penalty that presented YM a chance to increase their lead, and the chance was taken, this time the conversion was missed, with the breeze holding the ball up, to give the home side a 12 – 5 lead at the break.
Ely came out for the second a different side, pushing forward and applying pressure on the home sides back line, and soon after the restart, Adam Tallack crosses the try line to draw the sides level, with the extra points missed the score reminded level, Tigers were still looking to take game to YM, and on the next drive Charlie Coupland was held up, but like the first half the penalty count was once again totting up and once again the home side took advantage, as YM once again took the lead, with a try and conversion to lead 19-12, a chance fell to Mitch Kennett, who crossed over to score while Alsop added the conversion points to level the scores once more, but from the restart Tigers once again switched off as the home side crossed over once more, this time the conversion was missed as the score stayed at 24-19, as the clock was heading towards 80 minutes the side could have scored again, only this time the final pass was dropped as the try line was there to be crossed. Moments later the final whistle blew to end the game as Tigers went down a second successive defeat.
Press release from Ely Tigers Rugby Club
Photo credit: Steve Wells
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