Ely Tigers welcomed back some familiar faces as they lined up against Newmarket at Cambridge Commodities Park on Saturday afternoon, but the changes seem to disjoint the side that had posted 57 points in the previous weeks win at Thetford.
From the start it was visitors that started the brightest, applying pressure on the home side, and seemly having a man over on the wing on each attack, and it was that the could have seen Newmarket post the first points on the board, however the final pass was over thrown and out to touch, as the half went on, Ely could release the pressure as they were pinned back in their own half, finally Ely found some space as they put together an attack, which saw Paul Dewy heading for the corner, only to put out to touch just as he was about to dive over in the corner, from the resulting play Newmarket kicked the ball clear, which bounced kindly for Newmarket as again they went on the attack, from a scrum they feed the ball across the park, left to right, finding a gap in the Tigers back line to score the opening try of the afternoon, the conversion was missed, Tigers thought they’d drawn level as Ed Fahy crossed over, but the play was brought back due to forward pass, as half time approached the home side finally had some points on the board, as Jake Alsop slotted over the post with a penalty kick, as the half finish 5-3 to the visitors.
The second half started very much like the first, once again Newmarket were on the attack and they had an early chance to extend their lead when they were awarded a penalty, but the ball just fell short, a rare Ely attack was stopped after a forward pass, one of many mistakes during the afternoon, back came Newmarket applying pressure on the back line, and during one of the attacks the referee showed Tigers Ryan Edgeworth a yellow card, and sent the home side down to 14 men, and it was during this time that the back line couldn’t hold up any longer as the home side defence was breached, as Newmarket crossed the line, and with the conversion added they opened up a 12-3 lead, and the lead was increased soon after when they broke free to once more cross over to score, to make it 19-3 with the conversion added.
With Newmarket looking at the clock, looking for that bonus point try, Ely finally looked dangerous, as the backs started to push forward, and it was on one of these attacks that saw Matt McCarthy crossing to score, with Alsop adding the extra points, to make it 19-8.
Had Newmarket switched off, or did Ely think they could get something out of the game as the clock neared the 80 minute mark, Ely once more went on the attack, and a cross field kick bounced kindly for Paul Dewey, how this time made no mistake as he gathered the ball and crossed the line to score, Alsop was unable to add the extra points, as the score was 19-13, was there still a chance, Ely once more went on the attack, but again passing errors gave the ball back to Newmarket, with Ely inside the twenty two metre area, there was just one more chance for Tigers, but a again an error gave the ball back to the visitors, who kicked the ball into touch as the final whistle blew to give Newmarket the points.
The win lifts Newmarket into third, just above Ely, who have a game in hand, Ely travel to Ipswich YM on Saturday, a side just below Tigers in the league but who were unable to field a side at the weekend.
Press release from Ely Tigers Rugby Club
Photo credit: Steve Wells
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