Ely Tigers vs Newmarket Match Report

The first local derby of the season came as Newmarket travelled along the A142 to Cambridge Commodities Park to face Ely Tigers.

Tigers were forced to change their starting XV due to injuries, after a bright start for Ely it was the visitors that opened the scoring with an early try the conversion couldn’t be added  as they took a 5 point lead, a tap and go penalty under the posts saw Tigers open their scoring as Mitch Kennett  bundled the ball over to score, Alsop add the conversion as Tigers took a 2 point lead.

Mistake at a line out allowed Newmarket to score again, in the same spot as previous try, this time the conversion was added, from here it was the visitors that controlled the game, as they  break free once more from a line out deep in their own half, with Tigers unable to make the tackles count as they allowed Newmarket free to score under the posts, conversion added, missing tackles and moving the ball quickly saw another try for Newmarket, with the conversion added, with the aid of the upright as there score board read 26-7, from a line out, Ely won the ball as Jordan Barnes took the ball over for a try, a penalty to Newmarket in front of the posts saw them opt for the points, with three points being added to the score board with the successful kick, as half time approached Newmarket score again, as Ely fail again to hold on to the player as the visitors break again down the wing, cutting in to score under the posts, with the conversion added they lead at the break 36-14.

Second half started with neither side able to get a hold of the game, and it was the hosts that put the first points on the board, and came from an error from the visitors, the error put Ely deep into the Newmarket half, the ball finally being taken across the try line by Jim Storey, Alsop was able to add the conversion, but it was missed tackles, highlighted by head coach, Des Lloyd, after the game, that came back to trouble Ely again as Newmarket crossed the try line once more, again with the conversion added the visitors lead 43-21,  

Ely finished the game with 14 men as Matt McCarthy was shown a yellow card for a high tackle, the final whistle blew soon after as the points headed back along the A142 to Newmarket.

Press release from Ely Tigers Rugby Club

Photo credit: Steve Wells