Ely Tigers signed off the 2023/24 season with an away game at Ipswich RFC, until recent weeks Tigers were pushing Ipswich to finish in 3rd place, but a conceded game away to Ipswich YM pushed Tigers down the league, and with Shelford dropping points Ipswich were looking to take the runners up spot, as both sides went into the final game on 80 points.
The game started with a early chance for Tigers as they were awarded a penalty, Jake Alsop steps up to slot the ball home, with the help of the post, from the restart there was pressure from the home side, but a handling error by the home side saw Ely able to clear their lines, Ely cleared the ball from a line out on the right, passing their way to the left, finally allowing Matt McCarthy to score, with Alsop adding the conversion to give Tigers a 10 point lead
The home side come back from the restart, with a converted try to narrow the lead, with the score the home side started to get a foot in the game, and it wasn’t long until their second try came, with the conversion added they lead 14-10, with half time approaching, Ely take the lead, with Declan Wolverson diving over to score, the conversion was missed, but it meant the Tigers lead by a single point, in added on time, the home side piled on the pressure, they crossed the try line, but the Tigers held the ball up, giving the chance to clear the lines from a kick under the posts, the clearance was just a brief rest bite for Tigers, as back came the home side, as they crossed the line to score and lead at the break 19-15.
The opening moments of the second half saw Tigers have a mountain to climb as the quickly conceded two quick tries, a low kick forward bounced kindly for the forward to score, with the difficult conditions not making the conversion hard, the ball fell short of the uprights, from the restart the home side scored again, making use of the overlap on the the wing, to score in the corner, again the conversion was missed
The try of the afternoon came from the home side as the scored their third try of the half, with another cross field kicked pass, found the the winger who picked up the ball in his stride to score, this time the conversion was added
The second half proved hard work for Tigers, which much of it with them camped deep in their own half, the home side turned the screw with another try, and a conversion, but it was Tigers that finished the game with the final try of the afternoon as Jim Storey crossed the try line to score, Alsop was unable to add the conversion as the game finished in a 43-20 defeat for the Tigers.
The final league table saw Tigers finish in 6th place on 65 points, with a record of 14 wins and 8 losses.
Press release from Ely Tigers Rugby Club
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