Ely Tigers welcomed Cantabs to the Cambridge Commodities Park on Saturday afternoon, where a tight opening 15 minutes saw neither side get to grips with the game however it was Tigers that put the first points on the board, a penalty for offside 32 meters out gave Jake Alsop the chance for three points, the kick sailing through the posts, the lead was soon increased as Ely’s scored the first try of the afternoon, with Jordan Barnes finishing off a Josh Fry, Joel Scott Paul and Alsop move to score in the corner, Alsop was unable to add the conversion.
Alsop was soon back on the score board, with a mirror image of the first penalty, again he made no mistake as Tigers went into a 11-0 lead, Cantabs started to come into the game going close twice, the first the referee played an advantage but the home side stood forward, so the play was played back, from this penalty it looked like they’d had in face crossed the line, but the official deemed that Tigers had held the ball up, giving Tigers to clear the ball up field, on the next move Cantabs did infact cross the try line after a period of pressure they found the gaps to score next to the post, leaving a easy chance for the conversion to make the score 11-7
With half time approaching Tigers were awarded another penalty, this time for a high tackle, Alsop opted to kick adding a further 3 points to lead 14-7 at the break.
The second started very much like the first, with neither side able to take control, with the first points of the half important for the either side, and it was Ely who scored first, from a scrum the ball found Aaron Borland, whose pace was no match for the backs as he founds gaps to score, Alsop was able to add the extra points, but only with the help of first the left hand upright and then the opposite upright before dropping over.
Cantabs were able to find another score, clearing a penalty kick deep in the Tigers back line, Tigers were unable to win the resulting line out, with Cantabs going over in the corner, leaving a difficult conversion, which was missed, the game was played out with no further additions to the score as the game finished in a 21-12 win.
The victory leaves Tigers in 4th place, just a point ahead of 5th place, this weekend the side travel across to Thurston, with a 2:30 kick off.
Press release from Ely Tigers Rugby Club
Photo credit: Steve Wells
You must be logged in to post a comment.