ELY’S three-game winning run was brought an abrupt end on Saturday at the hands of Harwich and Dovercourt.

Rugby

Ely Tigers 7

Harwich and Dovercourt 28

ELY’S three-game winning run was brought an abrupt end on Saturday at the hands of Harwich and Dovercourt.

A sluggish Ely side struggled to find their best rugby throughout the match and were clinically punished by the visitors who ran home four tries in an comfortable win.

The home side came into the match on the back of a busy weekend of fund raising and charity activities, including a 24hr touch rugby game whichhad begun at 4pm on Friday.

Both teams hit hard in the opening exchanges and looked to impose themselves on the game. Ely came under a large amount of pressure at the scrummage but after a few tactical changes, the Tigers began to meet the challenge.

Harwich pressed hard and an unusually lethargic Ely side began to make mistakes allowing the away side to capitalise with two converted tries before the break.

The second half began in the same fashion as the first only this time with Ely using penalty advantages to continually work their way up field, utilising excellent ball from well-functioning line outs to drive at the Harwich back line and create opportunities resulting in a try for scrum half Dan Coulson.

The breakthrough only served to rouse Harwich from their slump however, and as the a tired looking Ely squad faded away the visitors scored twice more taking the score to 28–7. Ely Play Vigo from Kent in the next round of the EDF Cup on Saturday.