Ely Tigers welcomed Ipswich YM to the Cambridge Commodities Park looking to complete the double over the Suffolk side, the visitors got the game underway, deciding to kick into the strong Fen wind, the opening ten minutes of the game was all Ipswich ball, with Tigers unable to get to grips with the ball.
From a line out meters from the Ely try line the home defence stood firm to the rolling Ipswich move, from a YM scrum, the bell broke out from the back, with the visitors able to bundle the ball over the line in the corner for the opening try of the afternoon, the conversion proved to be difficult, kicking from the side line and against the wind, both proved to much as the ball fell short, Ely had the chance to reduce the deficit soon after with a penalty in front of the post, Jake Alsop was able to convert the chance.
The wind blowing across the pitch was making it difficult for move sides, but it was the visitors that were having the lions share of the ball in the opening 25 minutes, so it was some surprise when Tigers took the lead, from deep in their own half, Jacob Muncey broke down the visitors move, passing out to Luke Turner who raced forward, making good use of the space around, as the move was broke down he was already three quarters in the YM half, with home side players backing him up, the ball finally found its way out to Joel Scott-Paul who find a gap to score under the posts, leaving a easy kick for Alsop, to give Tigers a 10-5 half time lead.
The second half started much like the same as the first, with IM on the front foot, but with Ely keeping the ball in play from a clearance from Ipswich, Muncey made the visitor pay, going over line for a try to increase the lead, the conversion was missed with Alsop kicking into the wind, the kick mirrored the one missed by Ipswich in the first half, from the restart YM went on attack, and from scrum they cleared the ball into touch, yards from the home sides try line, from the Ely line out the visitors put Tigers under pressure, but each time the home side kicked for yards, the ball came back, just as quick, with the visitors moving the ball from right to left they were knocking on the door to reduce the lead, but the home side stood firm, but another penalty against YM gave Tigers some breathing space, but again the ball came back and with 18 minutes into the second half the Tigers line was broken, with ease, as Ipswich crossed the line, the conversion was missed, as the stayed 15-10.
From the restart the game switched, with the home side seeming to go up a gear, from the restart, pressure was applied which saw Joel Scott-Paul break away, coming to a halt inside the 22 meter line, Ely were then camped out in the area, not letting Ipswich time to escape, the pressure paid off as stand in captain Mitch Kennett powered pass tackles to dive in over the try line close to the post, leaving a easy kick over for Alsop, to add some daylight on the score board, from the restart, the home said again applied pressure and again it resulted on a try, with Muncey gong over once more in the corner, Alsop couldn’t add the points, as the scored finished 27-10 to the home side, leaving them third in the league.
Match report and Photographs Steve Wells
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