Following the previous week’s dramatic home victory, Ely Tigers travelled to the Suffolk coast with confidence high. However, once again they were forced into changes, and a clash of colours meant the Tigers had to play in their warm up shirts.
It was the home side who started sharply, crossing in the corner early on, though the conversion was missed. Southwold added a second try after 16 minutes to lead 12–0. During that passage of play, Ely were reduced to 14 men after Matt French was shown a yellow card.
The pressure continued, with Southwold adding a third try, this time converted, to extend the lead to 19–0. From a scrum deep inside their own half, the hosts moved the ball the length of the pitch to score again, converting to make it 26–0.
From the restart, Southwold once more ran the ball from deep to score a further converted try, taking a commanding 31–0 lead into half time.
The second half began brightly for the Tigers. A kick through was collected deep by John Surbury, who linked up with Adam Tallack before Surbury powered over for Ely’s first try. Matt McCarthy added the conversion to reduce the deficit.
Any momentum was short lived, as Southwold responded from a scrum on the left, moving the ball wide to score in the corner, adding the conversion to make it 38–7. A dropped ball deep in the Southwold half was then intercepted and returned for another unconverted try, stretching the score to 42–7.
The Tigers had the final say of the match, with Alfie Allen crossing the line. McCarthy converted to complete the scoring, as the game finished 42–14.
Alfie Allen was named Man of the Match.
The Tigers will return to action on 28 February, when they face Ipswich YM in a crucial relegation clash.
Steve Wells, @rugby__tog photographer, Ely Tigers RFC – Cambridgeshire RFU