A losing bonus point was all Ely Tigers had to show for their afternoon’s work at unbeaten league leaders, Saffron Walden, a changed 18 for Tigers meant players playing out of position.
The home side laid down their marker for the game early on, it was a game of small margins, with Tigers unable to hold tackles, or even missing tackles that cost them as Walden took an early lead, a lead that was doubled soon after, after conceding two early tries Ely looked to have cut the lead as the crossed the try line, but the referee deemed they’d been held up, soon after Tigers did cross the try line with Grant Storey diving over, but again the home side came back, and again it was errors and miss tackles that allowed the home side to increase their lead, despite the home side looking strong, their was signs that Ely could find a way back in the game as they started to find space, Olly Watts, was one player to find a gap as he broke free to pass out the ball to Matt McCarthy, but with the try line in sight the home side recovered to halt the attack, a further chance for Ely to apply pressure cam as the home side went down to 14 men, and they had the ideal chance in front of the post, a quickly taken penalty with the try line in sight, was knocked on giving the ball straight back to the home side, sound after Walden picked up their bonus point with their fourth try afternoon, soon after adding a fifth, with half time approaching their was still time for another try to lead at the break 32-5
Second half started brighter for Ely, but again missed tackles once more caused costly as Walden crossed the try line once again, with the added conversion, another try under the post saw the scoreboard heading towards 50 points, but it was Ely that added points to the scoreboard as replacement, Michael Reeves, cap an impressive display with a deserved try, Jake Alsop was able to add the extra points, the next try was also for Ely as Aaron Borland, returning to side after injury, scored under the post, leaving a straightforward conversion for Alsop, but that nearly summed up the afternoon, as a mis kick nearly saw the ball go the wrong way of the post, but the extra points were added, but Walden still found time to add another try to take them over 50 points as Walden broke from the half way line to score unchallenged, it was Ely that has the final word, score their fourth try of the afternoon to seal a losing bonus point as Ryan Edgeworth went over to score, with the conversion added the game finished in a 51-26 defeat for the Tigers.
This coming Saturday the side face Cantabs at Downham Road, having picked up an injury, it looks like they’ll be with Matt McCarthy, who was forced off at the weekend.
Press release from Ely Tigers Rugby Club
Photo credit: Steve Wells
You must be logged in to post a comment.