GALLERY: Tigers stay in the hunt with victory over Woodbridge

Ely Tigers V Woodbridge (Image: Archant)

Ely kept their hat in the ring for the league title after recovering from an early setback to beat plucky Woodbridge on Saturday.

Despite the turgid conditions – with the wind and rain battering both teams - the Warriors started at a relentless pace and forced Ely to concede a penalty in their twenty-two for offside.

The visitors duly converted the kick to move into a 3-0 lead. But the Tigers fought back and gained a penalty for hands in the ruck, which Joel Scott Paul converted for three points.

Woodbridge were not easily subdued though and an Ely knock-on earned the Warriors put-in at the scrum. A neat kick down the blindside was caught by Woodbridge and a good show of hands allowed the ball to travel out to the wing, who scored an unconverted try in the corner.

Before the end of the half, Ely fought their way into the twenty-two but a high tackle to Ricky Neale hindered their efforts with the try-line in sight and they decided to take the three points with Scott Paul’s boot.

After the break, Ely came back on eager for points and the improving conditions gave them the advantage. Within minutes, Ely made ground down the wing and a switch of play to the blindside allowed full-back Charlie Coupland to touch down in the corner for an unconverted try.

Shortly after, Duncan Fraser came off the bench and he was quickly into the thick of the action with a well-worked try from swift hands in the back line.

Solid defence from Ely saw to it that Woodbridge didn’t score again and helped with the last try of the match. Determined counter-rucking from the Tigers saw the Warriors forced off their own ball a metre from the try line.

The ball was passed out to man of the match Ricky Neale who crashed over for a converted try.