Greene King Premiere Merit Table match. Cambridge Exiles 5 Ely Tigers II 14 ELY travelled to Cambridge to play an important Greene King Premiere league game, both sides showing good form of late with Cambridge beating table toppers Shelford last week. Th

Greene King Premiere Merit Table match.

Cambridge Exiles 5 Ely Tigers II 14

ELY travelled to Cambridge to play an important Greene King Premiere league game, both sides showing good form of late with Cambridge beating table toppers Shelford last week.

The Tigers' line up included Kieran Kennett returning from injury, with Jamie Russell moving to fly-half and Jules Thorne to number-8.

The game started a fast pace, the Tigers looked sharp but finishing was proving to be their undoing despite territorial advantage. The half came to close with Jamie Russell kicking a goal after a Cambridge player was on the wrong side at the ruck so Ely led by the small margin of 3-0 at half-time.

Cambridge began the second half with big forwards carrying the ball up at pace. It was now the Tigers turn to defend but they began to get their hands on the ball after the opening salvo, with Lee Moden and Thorne leading the way. Ely moved the ball into the Exiles' 22-metre area only for the just arriving Cambridge flanker to depart again with a yellow card. Jamie Russell kicked it to extend the lead to 6-0.

The Tigers were now turning over Exiles ball and with the backs getting space to run, they looked dangerous. Cambridge conceded another penalty, which Russell converted and Ely led 9-0.

Defensive pressure from Ely caused Cambridge lose the ball and Matt Daybell chipped over the defence for Andy Hugo to win the chase to score the Tigers only try of the game and for Ely to lead by a more comfortable 14-0.

As the game entered its final few minutes and the Exiles were rewarded with a try after a quickly taken penalty saw the big Cambridge flanker crash over from 5-metres out.

The referee called time on what had been a good spirited, tough game of rugby in which the Tigers triumphed.

Ely captain Tony Czarnobaj said: "We came with one aim today and that was to win, we didn't play well, but that was a credited to Cambridge. Today my man of the match was Julian Thorne.