Ely Tigers welcomed Thetford to the Cambridge Commodities Park, looking to keep the pressure on league leaders Holt
From the start both sides looked to gain the upper hand, with Thetford kicking their way into the Ely half, but the home defence stood firm, it was the home side that posted the first points on the board, quick hands saw a break from Matt French, taking him over the try line, the conversion looked to be a straight forward keep for Jake Alsop, but the ball stuck the upright and bounced to safety, the lead was soon to be doubled as Tigers picked up the momentum, a line out in the corner was won by Tigers as the pack pushed Thetford back enabling Grant Storey to score, again Alsop failed with the extra points as Tigers led 10-0.
From the restart, Tigers were soon back on the front foot, again moving the ball around the park with quick hands, the ball finally found Eli Williamson on the try line to go over under the posts, Alsop added the extra points, as Ely went into a 17-0 lead, Ely looked in control of the game and it wasn’t long before the bonus point try came, it came from yet another line out win, with the impressive French winning the ball a number of times, the Ely pack was to strong from Thetford pushing them back, the ball coming out of the pack finding captain Matt McCarthy who went over to score.
The penalty count was increasing for Thetford, and the next try came from a penalty, with Ely winning a scrum inside the five metre area, again the ball came out the rear as Tigers pushed Thetford back, George Newman appeared from the rear to cross over the try line with ease, Alsop added the extra points, with the half time break approaching McCarthy added his second try of the afternoon, another impressive break from French set up McCarthy who crossed the try time, Alsop added the conversion as Ely lead 36-0 at the break.
Second half started as the first had finished, with Tigers on the attack, again it was Ely’s power at the scrum that proved to much as Williamson going over for his second try of the afternoon, Alsop added the conversion, from the restart Ely went on the attack, a quickly taken penalty which enabled allowed Newman to cross the line for his second try of the afternoon, Alsop was unable to convert the extra points as Thetford charged down the kick.
A penalty against Ely saw the visitors opt to kick for points from just inside the Ely half, the ball fell short of the posts allowing Ely the chance to clear their lines, but the as Ely picked the ball up a handling error saw a knock on, giving Thetford the chance to apply some pressure, and they finally broke the Ely try line, the conversion fell short as the scoreboard read 48-5.
Ely where soon back on the attack, following another powerful scrum, enabled Adam Tallack cross over, again Alsop was unable to add the conversion, from now to the final whistle it was attack after attack from the home side, with Mitchel Kennett going over the try line under the posts, again after some good work from Man Of The Match, Matt French, with Alsop adding the conversion, soon after Kennett had a chance to score his second try of the afternoon, but the Thetford defence held him up, however the home side was soon to trouble the scoreboard once again as McCarthy scored his third of the afternoon, with Alsop adding the conversion, from the restart they crossed the line once more, with home side picking the ball up and moving the ball across the pitch, with Paul Dewey and Storey open in space in the right, with Storey going over in the corner for his second try of the afternoon as Ely breached the 70 point mark, Alsop then added to his conversion points, by adding two try’s to his tally, the first coming after some good work by Nathan Brooks, as the game entered into the final minutes Alsop cross over again for the final core of the afternoon as the game finished 84-5
The win puts Tigers 8 points behind Holt, and sets up the weekend’s A142 derby as they travel to Newmarket.
Press release from Ely Tigers Rugby Club
Photo credit: Steve Wells
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