Ely Tigers 31 – 39 Southwold RFC – High-Scoring Home Clash Shows Tigers’ Resilience
After last week’s loss to Shelford, Ely Tigers faced further injury challenges ahead of their home fixture against Southwold RFC. Despite the setbacks, the Tigers started brightly, playing with renewed pace and determination in front of the home crowd at the Pocock + Shaw Ground.
Ely took an early lead when they turned over a Southwold lineout, with Alfie Allen diving over for the opening try. Jake Alsop added the conversion to make it 7-0. Southwold hit back quickly, capitalising on a defensive error to score and convert, before Ely responded through Scott Macfarlane, who was driven over from a lineout. Alsop again added the extras.
The visitors levelled the score with another converted try, but Ely soon regained control when John Surby was brought down just short of the line. The referee awarded a penalty try, also reducing Southwold to 14 men.
Southwold refused to back down, breaking from deep inside their own half to score under the posts and draw level again. They then took the lead with a quick counterattack following an Ely restart, though the conversion missed. Alsop reduced the gap with a well-placed penalty to make it a two-point game.
In the closing stages, Southwold added a converted try and a penalty to extend their lead. Ely kept pressing and were rewarded late on as Allen crossed again in the corner, with Matt McCarthy converting to bring the final score to 39–31.
Despite the defeat, the Tigers showed grit and attacking flair, demonstrating their ability to compete strongly even with a reshuffled side.
📸 Photos: Try-scorers Alfie Allen & John Surby – @rugby__tog photographer
🏠 Ely Tigers RFC – Cambridgeshire RFU
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