The game started with both teams flying back and forth. Ely gained a penalty and opted to kick for the corner. The ball came out to Sam Benzie from the line-out and he scurried through the opposition defence to touch down for a converted try. The Tigers then lost players to injury nearing the end of the half and Thetford took advantage of this and touched down twice within minutes of each other. after Ely’s defence was splintered.
The second half was a nightmare start for Ely. Thetford kicked off and retained the ball, they shipped it wide from the breakdown and touched down for a converted try. Ely then settled, and the team began to knit, even after all the injuries. The ball came to the Ely backs and they decided to throw it wide. Luke Wileman held two of the opposition and offloaded to Joel Scott Paul who was brought down by the last defender. Lory Martin was there to receive the pop off the floor and passed it to man of the match Luke Cornwell who sprinted over the line for a converted try. Cornwell was at it again when he got his brace soon after, he touched down in the corner from the back fo a ruck. The Tigers almost crossed again when Jake Alsop stepped inside the defence but Ely knocked-on just before the line. Moments later Thetford were penalised for rucking dangerously. The Tigers kicked for the corner and mauled it forward, the oppositions defence was solid until Jacob Muncey bulldozed his way over in the corner for an unconverted try. The Tigers finished Thetford off when they kicked-off from the restart. The ball didn’t go ten metres and John Dibb pounced on the ball, fly-hacking it through. He was able to regather the ball and was brought down, Grant Storey was in support and offloaded again to Dibb, it bounced off his knee and he dropped on the ball over the line for a converted try. Final score – 33-19
Press release from Ely Tigers
Photo credit Thetford Rugby Club
