Ely Tigers hosted second placed Stowmarket with both sides chasing maximum points for very different reasons. Stowmarket were pushing for a swift return to Regional 2 Anglia following relegation last season, while the Tigers were looking to pull clear of the relegation zone.
The home side suffered a blow before kick off, losing captain Luke Turner after he broke his fibula in the weeks following the defeat against Bury IIs. Despite the setback, the Tigers started brightly.
With just ten minutes on the clock, Adam Tallack crossed the line for the opening try, with Jake Alsop adding the conversion to give Ely a 7–0 lead. The Tigers doubled their advantage after 22 minutes when Joel Scott Paul touched down, again converted by Alsop, making it 14–0.
Tallack added his second try of the afternoon on the half hour mark, with Alsop converting once more to extend the lead to 21–0. However, Stowmarket responded immediately from the restart with a converted try. Momentum swung quickly as Stowmarket added two further tries before the break, levelling the score at 21–21 and leaving the Tigers stunned at half time.
Stowmarket struck first in the second half, taking the lead through a penalty try, which also saw Ely reduced to 14 men after Declan Wolverson was shown a yellow card. Despite being a man down, the Tigers showed resilience, with Joel Scott Paul scoring his second try of the game to keep Ely within two points.
Stowmarket then added two further tries to move 38–26 ahead, but the Tigers refused to go away. Captain Matt McCarthy crossed for a converted try to reduce the gap to five points. With time running out, Tallack completed his hat trick, and Alsop added the crucial conversion to put Ely back in front.
The Tigers held on to secure a dramatic 40–38 victory, sealing a vital win in front of the home crowd.
This week, the Tigers travel to the Suffolk coast to face Southwold. Maximum points would see Ely close the gap and move above the Suffolk side in the league.
📸 Photos:
Joel Scott Paul
Hat trick hero – Adam Tallack
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