Gilborn’s hat-trick seals win

Wisbech II 0 Ely II 19

A MEMORABLE Jimmy Gilborn hat-trick ensured that Ely's second team were victorious.

The Tigers were facing a Wisbech side with three brothers, Andrew, Ali and James Comben, playing their first ever rugby match together.

Ely created their own problems in the opening 10 minutes, with too much ball-watching and their ball-carriers were isolated.

The Tigers began to take charge in the last 15 minutes of the first half and went ahead when a great catch and drive from the forwards, was followed by a dummy move, and after strong running play, Gilborn finished well. Jamie Russell converted to give Ely a 7-0 lead.

The Ely forwards were now clearing rucks with ease and such work, just inside the Wisbech half, allowed Kieran Kennett to stretch his legs before passing to Gilborn who was tackled five metres short of line but still scored, despite three Wisbech players hanging on, for a terrific individual try. This gave Ely a 12-0 half-time lead.

The Tigers made changes at half-time and began to force the game.

Wisbech looked short on ideas and began to kick possession away, with the visitors securing lineout ball with ease.

The next try came from a lineout. Scrum-half Vic Cato took a quick throw to Kieran Kennett, who off-loaded to the forwards who interchanged passes before releasing Gilborn. His opposite number showed him the outside, and he took it and finished under the posts to complete his hat-trick. Russell kicked the conversion to make it 19-0 and the Tigers saw out the remainder of the game with relative ease.

Ely skipper Tony Czarnobaj said: "We've worked hard all year on our defence and Wisbech never looked like crossing our line today. Man of the match, with out doubt, was Jimmy Gilborn, he looks one for the future."

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