RUGBY Ely II 73 Harlow III 10 ELY II welcomed Greene King Premier League Cup second round opponents Harlow III on Saturday on a weekend where both firsts and thirds opponents had withdrawn, leaving the seconds to carry the flag for the club. Harlow kicked

RUGBY

Ely II 73 Harlow III 10

ELY II welcomed Greene King Premier League Cup second round opponents Harlow III on Saturday on a weekend where both firsts and thirds opponents had withdrawn, leaving the seconds to carry the flag for the club.

Harlow kicked off and immediately Andy Hugo broke and as he was tackled, fed winger Graham Park who with little room and always accompanied by cover tacklers, covered 50 metres to score in the corner. Matt Daybell converted regally from the touchline and the Tigers had a 7-0 lead before the crowd could draw breath.

And it continued, as Harlow kicked off again, Ely fumbled, were penalised twice giving Harlow a five-metre line-out from which they scored, reducing the lead to 7-5.

A very effective Ely rolling maul was taken on by the backs until Harlow conceded a penalty 10 metres out. It was taken quickly and Joe Schwaab scored under the posts.

Fly-half Daybell tormented the opposition with his searing acceleration, putting Andy Hugo through to score for a 21-5 scoreline.

Soon after, the pace that the Tigers possess, was responsible for making a try out of nothing. Ely won a penalty and kicked for the corner but missed touch.

The defender failed to catch the ball and flanker Will Watts claimed the ball before feeding fellow flanker Sean Kennett who scored. Immediately Harlow restarted poorly and the kick was run back by Ely, finally scoring through Matt Daybell.

When the half-time whistle arrived, the Tigers had a healthy 35-5 lead which was immediately extended as they won back the kick-off. Andy Hugo took advantage of the gap made by the inside players before putting Iain Scott away to beat the defence from the wing.

Immediately Harlow replied, cleverly making room for their winger to score in the corner. The Tigers now led 42-10.

Soon after, Daybell won a chip and chase to finish a good backs move and the Tigers moved in for the kill clinically. Two wonderful counter-attacking solo tries from Harlow clearance kicks were scored by Daybell and Kieran Kennett, which were augmented by two team tries, the first when Kennett finished at full stretch with players hanging off him.

The second started with forwards and backs interplay making the room for a chip into unmarked space, the chase for which was won by Andy Hugo.

The Tigers had won 73-10 with Daybell in superb kicking form, converting nine of the 11 tries as well as scoring three tries himself, a personal tally of 33 points.