Ely Tigers played league leaders, Norwich, on Saturday, with the visitors unbeaten in their opening six games of the season, again Tigers were forced to make changes due to picking up injuries the week before,
The game started brightly for the Tigers, as they were awarded an early penalty in front of the posts, opting to kick for the points, Jake Alsop slotted the ball over the uprights for an early lead,
A mistake from a line out in the Ely half presented Norwich with an opening, as the slipped by Ely tackles to score in the corner, however the conversion was missed, Try to Ely, as Adam Tallack picked up the ball and ran at Norwich, scoring to the left of the posts, Alsop adds the conversion, from the restart, Norwich push forward, slipping tackles, and having an overlap on the right, to score in the corner, again the conversion was missed as the score were tied at 10 each
Norwich take the lead, this time by moving the ball out to the left, again slipping tackles to score in the corner, however a change of kicker saw the conversion added to open a seven point lead.
Ely score, from a penalty, opting to tap and go they passed the ball along the field, for Jim Reed to score in the corner, the conversion was missed, as half time drew close Ely went in ahead, as Jim Reed picked up the loose ball from John Surbury, to score, Alsop added the conversion for Ely to lead 22-17, the final play of the half saw Norwich award a penalty, opting to kick for the points, they closed the half just 2 points behind as Ely went into the break 22-20 award.
The second saw Norwich go up a gear and show why they are league leaders, from the start of the second half, Norwich broke from their own half, to leave Ely behind to score adding the conversion, from the restart they increased their lead with a mirror of the previous try, breaking out from the Ely half to race forward to score, a slip proved costly for Tigers as Ely went to tackle the defender slipped leaving space for Norwich who attacked to score in the corner, with the conversion added, Norwich lead by 20 points.
Another try for Norwich, as again the picked the ball up inside the Ely to again race forward to score, conversion added, from a nudged kick forward by Norwich they scored a further try, racing on to the loose ball, conversion added, to pass the 50 point mark, as Ely attack a loose pass was picked off by Norwich from deep in their own half to race forward to score, conversion missed as it hits the upright posts, Norwich then went down to 14 , during this time Ely got on the scoresheet as Tallack scored his second try of the afternoon, with Alsop adding the conversion, but before the end of the game there still time for Norwich to score again to run out 67-29 winners.
Photo – Two try scorer Jim Reed
This coming Weekend (2nd November) is a blank weekend for the Tigers, at the moment there is a friendly away to Thetford
