Third consecutive win for Hayler’s Tigers

Rugby

Thurston 10

Ely Tigers 53

AN ever-improving Ely Tigers side notched up their third consecutive league win on Saturday at the expense of basement side Thurston.

A recent run of good form ensured the Tigers were in an ebullient mood coming into the game and their fervour quickly bore fruit as they ran over seven tries in a dominant performance.

The win sees Karl Hayler’s men climb into sixth place in the Eastern Counties League, their highest position of the season so far.

The opening exchanges of the game came hard and fast with both teams committing fully to the game both at the break down and through the backs.

Once settled, Ely began to press and a break down the left hand side by back row Lee Coulson saw him lay off a pass to his brother Dan to cross the line and score the first of Ely’s points in the game. The try was converted to give Ely a 7–0 lead.

Ely’s breakthrough brought out the fighting spirit in the Thurston side who employed a very physical approach and worked their way back up field, forcing two mistakes out of Ely to bring the scores back to 7–6 approaching the end of the half. In the final few exchanges of the half however, Ely struck twice through Joel Scott-Paul out on one wing and then through Kevin Houghton on the opposite wing, off the back of a quick-tap penalty.

Thurston emerged for the second half looking to increase their physicality in a bid to muscle Ely off the park but the visitors were quick to adjust and matched the home side.

Some basic handling mistakes from Ely though, meant that Thurston were able turn ball over on a regular basis but Hayler’s men once more responded and they launched a counter attack.

The home side were unable to stand up to the pace and pressure and Ely went on to cross the line four more times, through debutant Sam Benzie, second row John Hunt and twice more through winger Joel Scott-Paul one of which was a sublime chip over the top which the winger was able to gather and go on to score under the posts.

Thurston were able to score one consolation try but by this point the win was secure for Ely

Ely Standard Man of the Match: Jamie Russell