Ely Tigers travelled along the A142 for a Derby fixture against Newmarket.
Newmarket had already taken the points earlier in the season when they visited Ely, Tigers made one change to the starting XV, with James Buckland coming in to replace the injured Charlie Coupland.
From the first whistle the game had that feel of a local derby, with Tigers looking the busier of the two sides, and it was no surprise that they put the first points on the board, with Grant Storey scoring for the third match running, after Ely won the ball at a line out, Storey was able to dive over the line to score, Jake Alsop added the conversion for a 7-0 lead, a mistake from a Ely scrum enabled Newmarket to apply pressure on the Tigers back line, but Ely once more won the line out ball, giving them a chance to kick the ball clear, but the blustery wind meant the ball wasn’t cleared far.
Matthew French was proving to be too much in line out for Ely as they won yet another line out from Newmarket ball, the chance gave Ryan Clear a chance to kick forward, it was another line out that Ely scored there next try, this time opting to go short in the arms of Ricky Neale, as Ely pushed forward the ball found Mitchel Kennett who crossed over the line to touch the ball down, Alsop added the extra points, moments later Alsop added a penalty to the score board as Tigers led 17-0.
Newmarket were the next to trouble the scoreboard, moving the ball across the pitch until finally they found a gap in the Tigers backline to go over the try line under the posts unchallenged, with the conversion added with ease, directly from the restart Ely opened the gap once more, Clark fed the ball out to the wing, missing out Alsop into the hands of Paul Dewey who showed a clean pair of heels as he headed to the corner, going down over the try under the challenge from Newmarket, Alsop was unable to add the conversion, as the half came to an end Newmarket were awarded a penalty, they decided to kick for the points, but the ball fell short.
The second half saw Tigers loose one of the advantages as the scrums went to uncontested, the scrums during the first 40 minutes saw Ely gain some important meters, Ely started the half very much like the first, winning line out ball giving the change for Matt McCarthy to set up Alfie Ramswell to score, Alsop failed to add the conversion, from the restart Ely were quick to win the ball back, McCarthy kicked forward, wind assisted the ball was once more in the danger area, put the home side under pressure from another line out, with Tigers bearing down on the try line, Newmarket managed to hold Kennett up, giving Newmarket the chance to clear the ball from under their posts, but with wind holding the ball up, Ely were once more on the attack, Clark put in a small looping kick, which should have been collected by the home side, but an awkward bounce fell to second half replacement Mark Assenti who showed some neat footwork to kick the ball forward over the try line for Assenti to touch the ball down, Alsop was unable to add the conversion, another line out ball won by Ely saw another try for Tigers, with Eli Williamson going over the try line, Alsop was able to able to add the conversion, the last play of the game saw Newmarket on the attack and pushing Ely back, but a handling error from Newmarket brought the game to an end.
The game see’s Ely stay in second place 8 points behind leaders Holt, Tigers next game will be at home on the 12th February when they face Ipswich YM, a side that have started to find some form and another side that beat Tigers earlier in the season.
Press release from Ely Tigers Rugby Club
Photo credit: Steve Wells
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