Ely welcomed back some missing faces from the previous week as they welcomed Shelford Nomads.
Close opening exchanges saw neither side able to get a foothold in the game, it was the home side that took the lead, from a Tigers line out the ball is worked out to Adam Tallack who goes over in the corner, Jake Alsop was unable to add the conversion from the touch line, from the restart the visitors add their first try of the afternoon, with the added conversion they took the lead.
From the restart Ely win a penalty, Alsop opts to go for the points but the ball drifts left of the posts, from the restart a Shelford error gives the ball back to Ely, but Tigers were unable to take up the advantage.
The penalty count for both sides were starting to creep up and it was one awarded to Ely that gave Ely a slender lead as Alsop adds three points in front of the posts, Shelford break from a line out and look to attack and adding pressure on the Tigers back line, but a handling error led to a Ely scrum and the chance to clear the ball away.
Another line out saw Ely win the ball over on the right, the ball is worked out to the left as the ball passed hands, with Matt McCarthy finding Luke Turner to score, the conversion was missed from the touchline.
Shelford penalty in front of the posts gave them a chance to close the gap, which they did, from the restart Shelford cross the line to score in the corner, with the conversion missed the visitors lead at the half time break.
The second half started with Ely taking the lead under the posts as McCarthy scored, Alsop’s conversion kicked was charged down as Shelford rushed out to narrow the angle, Alsop was soon to have another chance as the penalty count increased, this time the kick was to the right of the posts as Alsop made no mistake as the opened a slender lead, another penalty saw a six point lead open, but again the lead was cut by Shelford as the score another try, the conversion would have given the visitors the lead, but the ball went off to the right off the posts.
With the game coming to close, Alsop once more saw his penalty kick drift wide of the posts, it was then the visitors turn to take a chance for 3 points, as they were awarded a penalty just in the Ely half, but the kick fell short giving the home side a chance to clear up field, from that clearance back came the visitors, piling on the pressure on the home defence, despite the effort from the home defence Shelford found the gap to score a try, with the conversion added the game came to a close with a 27-21 defeat for Tigers.
Press release from Ely Tigers Rugby Club
Photo credit: Steve Wells
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