Ely Tigers travelled across to Bury St Edmunds Saturday afternoon to play Bury 2’s with a much changed squad of 18 due to injury and player unavailability, aswell as Covid cases, a squad that changed again on Saturday morning.
It was the home side that troubled the scoreboard first, winning a line out they moved the ball right to left finding the winger, who was able to brush off and miss tackles to score, with the conversion added, the home side lead 7-0, Tigers were forced into a early change, but they drew level soon after the opening try, a kick forward by Jake Alsop bounced kindly for Aaron Borland, who picked up the loose ball to glide in un challenged to score under the posts, with Alsop adding the conversion to level the scores.
Bury once again took the lead in a carbon copy of the first try, once again moving the ball out to the winger who added his second try of the afternoon. The side then were reduced to 14 men, following a penalty, which gave Jake Alsop a chance to reduce the score line from just outside the 22, in front of the posts Alsop put the ball through the posts to make the score 14-10.
Despite being a man down Bury once more increased their score, again missed tackles and space out wide proved the downfall of the Tigers as Bury crossed the line, but they were unable to add the conversion, an error by Bury from the restart once again saw the pace of Borland that proved to much for the home side as he was able to cross the try line under the posts, once again giving Alsop the chance to add the conversion, to close up the score line
Ely had the chance to nudge ahead, wining another penalty, further out than the previous ones, and more at the angle of the posts, Alsop was unable to add the points as the ball stayed low and went off to the right. A perfectly place kick forward from Alsop placed the ball perfectly in the corner to set up Ely’s next attack, with the line out placing Bury on their own try line, but Tigers were unable to win the ball giving the home side the perfect chance to clear their lines, but the head win meant the ball didn’t travel far and back came Ely, but the attack was halted with the award of a penalty to the home side, where the referee was forced to take both captains to one side following a bout of pushing and shoving as the first half came to a close.
The second half saw the home side take control of the game and they soon added another try, from a scrum deep in their own half the ball broke out and within two passes the home side run the length of the pitch to score, with the conversion added, it seemed the try deflated Ely, but another penalty after a tip tackle gave Alsop a chance to again reduce the score line, the chance was converted, but two quick try’s took the game away from Ely, the first coming from a Bury scrum enabling them to score in the corner, giving the kicker a difficult chance with the conversion, which was missed, sound after the added another try after once again tackles were missed leading to Bury scoring with the conversion added, it was Ely’s turn to be reduced to 14 as the came entered the final stages, an error from Ely lead to the final try of the game, a kick forward bounced unkindly and just out of reach for the Tigers defence, but fell nicely into the hands of the home side who was able to run forward to score with the added conversion to wrap the game up, with a 45-20 score line
The defeat leaves Ely in 7th place in the league on 9 points, the Tigers are on the road again this coming weekend as they travel to 9th place Diss, for a rearranged fixture from the opening day of the season.
Press release from Ely Tigers Rugby Club
Photo credit: Steve Wells
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