Ely Tigers travel to Norfolk side, Holt, in another top three fixture that again could prove pivotable come the end of March as the league champions are crowned, Tigers made changes to the starting 15 that travelled to Wymondham a fortnight earlier, into the side came Erwin Nooteboom and Sam Smith, as well as powerhouse Jacob Muncey.
The home side came out of the blocks, as they looked to get on the score board first, but after soaking up the early pressure, captain Joel Scott-Paul broke free to cross the white line for the opening try of that afternoon, Scott-Paul then added to the points with the conversion, both side then found themselves a man short as both sides received yellow cards, in that time it was the home side that took the advantage, with to converted penalty kicks, to make the score 7-6, the home them stepped up the gears with yet another converted try to add some day light between the side, as they went into a 13-7 lead, worse was still to come for Tigers, as the home side once more added a further try before the half time break, as they added a unconverted try to make at 18-7 at half time.
Ely started the second half the brighter of the two sides, but failed to trouble the score board, as the home side added a further converted try, to make the score 25-7, it looked to be one of those afternoons the visitors, but a try from Ely’s, Mitchell Kennett, and a conversion by Scott-Paul made it 25-14, moments later, could Tigers turn this game around, as Erwin Nooteboom crashed over the white line to close the gap, once Scott-Paul once more added the extra points, to make it 25-21, with Ely pushing and looking for the win, no more watching on could say which way the game would go, but once again the home side added some daylight in the scores as they added another try, to make the score 30-21, as the home side failed to add the extra points, could this be a costly miss, as once more back came the Tigers, as Luke Turner, broke along the wing to cross the try line, the conversion, made the score 30-28, as much as Tigers pushed for the winning try, it was the home side that nearly added to the score, but a last ditch tackle prevented the try in the dying moments, Ely broke down field but the attack proved fruitless as the home knocked the ball into touch for the final whistle.
Match report and photo credit: Steve Wells
