Ely lost the coin toss and the opponents started with the wind advantage.

Ely Standard: Fakenham v Ely Tigers: Tom Green tries to miss a tackle. Picture: STEVE WELLS.Fakenham v Ely Tigers: Tom Green tries to miss a tackle. Picture: STEVE WELLS. (Image: Archant)

The Tigers’ solid defence held Fakenham out for the first ten minutes as they were eager from the get-go.

The Tigers then forced their way back up the pitch against the wind. The ball was shipped to the backs from a successful Tigers’ line-out and Charlie Coupland cut a scything run straight through the centre of the opposition defence and touched down for a converted try.

A few minutes later Fakenham gained a penalty and opted to kick for the corner and failed to find touch.

Ely Standard: Fakenham v Ely Tigers: Tigers captain Joel Scott Paul gets tackled from behind. Picture: STEVE WELLS.Fakenham v Ely Tigers: Tigers captain Joel Scott Paul gets tackled from behind. Picture: STEVE WELLS. (Image: Archant)

Ely left it to bounce into touch and the opposition winger gave chase, toe poked the ball through and dived on it to score in the corner.

Ely were then hounding the opposition defence again.

A gap opened for Grant Storey who darted through the defence and dived over the line for a converted try.

Ely Standard: Fakenham v Ely Tigers: Paul Dewey fails to get away. Picture: STEVE WELLS.Fakenham v Ely Tigers: Paul Dewey fails to get away. Picture: STEVE WELLS. (Image: Archant)

At the start of the second half the Ely forwards rumbled it up the pitch into the opposition twenty-two. Quick hands forced the ball wide to Luke Turner who sprinted in for a converted try.

In the final twenty the Tigers were desperate to get the bonus point win and were throwing the ball about wildly to no avail.

They finally scored when man of the match Jim Storey found space down the blindside to run in unscathed. Fakenham fought back and scored a consolation try in the last play of the game after Ely had two players sin binned for repeat infringements.

Ely Standard: Fakenham v Ely Tigers: Charlie Coupland crosses the white line to score the opening try for Ely. Picture: STEVE WELLS.Fakenham v Ely Tigers: Charlie Coupland crosses the white line to score the opening try for Ely. Picture: STEVE WELLS. (Image: Archant)

The final score was 28-12.