A hard-fought contest was eventually decided by Ely Tigers on their return to London 1 Eastern Counties League action after a two-week absence. 

Adam Tallack handed Ely an early lead at home to Shelford II on November 26, before the visitors were gifted a route back after an error. 

Shelford then took the lead from a scrum, and after Aaron Borland’s try for Tigers, their opponents scored to take a 17-15 lead into half-time. 

Ely made a breakthrough in the second half despite a four-point gap opening up for Shelford.  

But Borland was on hand to claw his team back into the ascendancy when he was found by Jim Storey’s pass. 

And as further penalties were taken by each side, Ely broke again when Eli Williamson dived over to create a 10-point cushion against Shelford who later went down to 10 men. 

Tigers, who sit fourth in the league table, visit fifth-placed Wymondham on December 3.