The new club mantra this year of, Two Teams, One Squad, again came to the forefront on Saturday as Ely Tigers travelled across to Thetford for a league fixture, with first team regulars missing due to injury and availability it gave a chance to those coming in to impress.
Tigers got off to a prefect start as James Buckland crossed the try line in the corner to give them a lead inside the opening five minutes, but the home side soon drew level and added the extra points to take a 7-5 lead, a lead that was soon to be extended on 19 minutes after the home took an advantage of a gap in the Tigers defence which lead to a easy chance of a try, with the conversion added, the lead increased to 14-5, Tigers need to close the gap, and on 23 minutes the gap was close, good work from Nathan Brooks and Lory Martin freed Nathanael Musvaire dived across the line in the corner, four minutes later and Ely took the lead with Mark Assenti went across the try line, with Jamie Alsop adding the conversion points, Assenti added his second try of the half on 35 minutes after a break from inside the home side half, again Alsop added the extra points to increase the score to 24-14, on the stroke of half time Assenti became provider, as he passed to Buckland who crossed over, again Alsop added the extra points as the half time whistle blew with Tigers leading 29-14.
The second half started brightly for the home side, but they could breach the Tigers back line, and it was no surprise when Tigers once more added to the score line, with Assenti adding his third try of the afternoon, leaving Alsop to add the extra points from under the posts, the score seemed to deflate the home side more, as quickly after Mitchel Kennett crossed over, again Alsop added the conversion, Tom Green added another try to pass the 50 point mark after finding a gap in the home defence to cross over the line unchallenged, with the added points from Alsop, Kennett was able to add his second try of the afternoon as the game neared the final whistle, crossing the line under the post to give Alsop the chance to add the extra points in front of the posts, on the stroke of full time there was still chance for one more score, but it was the home side that found the gap in the back line to cross the line, with the conversion points missed, the final whistle blew with the final score 57-19.
The win puts Ely in third place in the league, having played 4 games, compared to Holt (1st) and Thurston (2nd), both of which have played 5 games, the win sets up Saturday’s (30th) home derby fixture against Newmarket, kick off 3pm.
Steve Wells
Press release from Ely Tigers Rugby Club
Photo credit: Steve Wells
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