Cottenham Renegades 7 Ely II 14 EXCELLENT performances from the ever-present Will Watts and Jimmy Gilbourn, helped Ely Tigers second team come from behind to take a fine win from this friendly match. Watts was everywhere and Gilbourn s ferocious tackling

Cottenham Renegades 7 Ely II 14

EXCELLENT performances from the ever-present Will Watts and Jimmy Gilbourn, helped Ely Tigers' second team come from behind to take a fine win from this friendly match.

Watts was everywhere and Gilbourn's ferocious tackling, superb work-rate, passing and overall display of skill, added a touch of class to the Tigers' performance.

The Ely side had a strange look as there were big changes to allow every position to be filled. Ely only started with 14, borrowing a winger until

their last player arrived.

Early exchanges were all in the Renegades' half but the home side enjoyed the majority of possession. The Ely scrum then started to roll and

slowly the Tigers started to establish themselves. But a lack of cutting edge, with the flat midfield unable to capitalise on Matt Daybell's fly-half runs or generate any attacking moves, meant that the Tigers rarely threatened the opposition line.

Finally a huge drive from the pack took Ely within touching of the line, but the half-time whistle came to the home side's rescue.

Ely started the second period without Vic Cato, who was patching up a hand injury, but still produced some good pressure in the Cottenham 22-metre area.

Cottenham found themselves in a good attacking position, following a long kick, and Cato's reappearance was not enough to save his team from conceding the first try as the Renegades passed the ball across the field and scored from an overlap. The conversion was kicked to give the home side a

7-0 lead.

Ely went down to 14 players for a short period but they pulled level when forwards drove strongly to the opposition 22-metre area, where the resultant ruck ball was moved blind to Will Watts to score in the corner. Daybell then confidently kicked the very difficult conversion.

The Tigers looked a different team from then on with backs breaking and

forwards driving well.

The dominant Ely pack made many metres with a strong drive before Cottenham were penalised.

The quickly-taken penalty was run and very slick passing quickly moved the ball 50 metres across the field to Vousden on the overlap, and sheer strength took him over the line. Daybell kicked another excellent conversion and Ely led, 14-7.

Ely went on to enjoy total dominance and the home side seemed grateful for the final whistle.