Ely Tigers travelled to North Walsham on Saturday afternoon to face a side with only one win on the board all season. Report by  Steve Wells.

Tigers were, again, forced to make changes in the starting 15, and that maybe showed during the first 40 minutes as they struggled to get their passing rugby going.

With to many errors, the opening 15 minutes were littered with penalties from both sides, which eventually saw the hosts down to 14.

While they were down a man; the home side took the lead, a penalty just inside the Tigers half.

With the wind at their backs, they opted to kick for the points, the ball drifted right, but stayed the right side of the posts to put three points on the board

The first try of the afternoon came from Ely’s best passage of play of the half, passing the ball from left to right eventually finding Luke Turner, who crossed the line in the corner, leaving a difficult kick for Jake Alsop but the ball drifted the wrong side of the posts.

Ely Standard: Luke Turner in play at the weekend.Luke Turner in play at the weekend. (Image: STEVE WELLS)

As half time approached, another penalty for the home side right in front of the posts gave them the chance to lead at the break, which they scored, as the half time whistle blew.

The second half started with pressure from Tigers as Matt McCarthy went over the try line, again in the corner leaving a difficult kick once more for Alsop, the conversion was missed.

Ely started to up the pressure, winning a line out deep in Walsham’s half saw them press the home defence with Mitch Kennett going close.

A reloaded attack ended with Jim Storey going over the line, again Alsop was unable to convert, the bonus point try came as the Tigers saw McCarthy freeing John Dibb from a tap and go penalty, Alsop was able to add the conversion.

Ely Standard: A reloaded attack ended with Jim Storey going over the line.A reloaded attack ended with Jim Storey going over the line. (Image: STEVE WELLS)

The last try of the game came as the Tigers old guard combined with John Dibb breaking freeing Joel Scott Paul to score, as the game drew to a close, once more the home side went down to 14 as Ely ran out 32-6 winners. 

This coming weekend the Tigers face Diss, who have yet to win away from home.