JUNIOR VASE Thetford 1st XV 22 Ely 1st XV 20 ELY produced some of their best rugby of the season and came desperately close to pulling off a remarkable comeback. The Tigers experimented with selection with the match due to be a friendly, but it was re-sch

JUNIOR VASE

Thetford 1st XV 22 Ely 1st XV 20

ELY produced some of their best rugby of the season and came desperately close to pulling off a remarkable comeback.

The Tigers experimented with selection with the match due to be a friendly, but it was re-scheduled as a Junior Vase game late on.

After conceding a try, Kieran Kennett converted a penalty to make it 7-3, and after the hosts added to their lead, Kennett kicked again to make it 10-6 at half-time.

A complete lapse in concentration saw a Thetford man ride three tackles and touch down for 17-6, and seconds after the re-start, it was 22-6.

The Tigers were shocked into life and played some sublime rugby, with the backs leading the way.

Long breaks by Gavin Ross, Jimmy Gillborn and Jamie Russell paved the way for Kennett to break from the opposition 22-metre line and score; then convert his own try for 22-13.

The Tigers pressed for the win whilst Thetford desperately hung on. Lee Kupyn, now at No 8, broke from a scrum before the forwards won fast ball and moved it to fly-half where Kennett drew his man before offloading to skipper Lee Coulson who made no mistake.

Kennett kicked the conversion for 22-20 but the final whistle blew on a useful experiment for Ely.

FRIENDLY

Ely 2nd XV 17 Shelford 3rd XV 10

THE Tigers attacked with flair in the first half and defended doggedly in the second to take a fine win.

During a quick start, Shelford botched a line-out in their own 22-metre area, and prop Sean Humble went on a driving run to score with an outstretched arm. Pete Vousden converted to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead.

The Tigers looked in control but poor chasing allowed Shelford's pace men to score an unconverted try.

The Tigers response was immediate. A line-out just inside the Shelford half was delivered off the top and fast hands through the back line put Koen Chamberlain in space. The young winger scorched down the line to score a terrific team try and extend the Tigers lead to 12-5.

Vousden ran with devastating effect to score a fine individual try and the Tigers went in to half-time 17-5 up.

The Tigers defence then had to work hard to turn over ball and couldn't get out of their half.

Shelford finally broke through for 17-10, but the more the visitors battered the Tigers defence, the better it seemed to get.

FRIENDLY

Biggleswade 3rd XV 47 Ely 3rd XV 20

TIGERS leaked five second-half tries in an open second half.

Ely started with confidence after a strong performance against Biggleswade's A side two weeks ago, but their only points of the first half came from Neil Clarke's 30-yard penalty kick as they went into the interval 14-3 down.

Ely managed pressure in the pack, but the backs began leaking tackles. This opened up the game considerably and Ely were able to make some headway on the score sheet with Clarke, Robin Jones and a stunning John Paveley 30-yard solo effort, all scoring tries.

But the hosts proved to be lethal in attack.