Tigers soundly beaten at Stowmarket
AN injury-ravaged Ely Tigers side were subjected to a hammering at the hands of high-flying Stowmarket at the weekend.
Rugby
Stowmarket 52
Ely Tigers 12
AN injury-ravaged Ely Tigers side were subjected to a hammering at the hands of high-flying Stowmarket at the weekend.
The Tigers were without several key figures for last week’s victory over Holt and found themselves another four first-team regulars light as they succumbed to a Stowmarket side in no mood for mercy.
The loss brings an end to Ely’s recent good form that saw them score back-to-back wins coming into the match.
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Ely endured a torrid week in the lead up to the game, again having to deal with a long injury and absence list that forced them to call upon several more players from the development squad.
The opening 10 minutes of the match were largely even with Ely working hard to keep pace with Stowmarket during a very physical and intense period. After establishing themselves in the match though, Stowmarket started to come to the fore and forced several mistakes from Ely that resulted in a blitz of tries.
The home side ran over three tries in a frenzied 20-minute burst before Ely were forced to see out the half with 14 man after a player was banished to the sin bin.
In the closing minutes Ely conceded their fourth and fifth tries of the half to compound a miserable opening period.
After the half-time break, a stunned Ely came back to life and began to find some shape. Stowmarket were forced onto the back foot as the visitors began to apply pressure. For all their gusto in attack however, Ely were still making mistakes and the home side were quick to score twice more on the break as Ely faltered.
Despite their deficit, the Tigers pressed on and towards the end of the game were able to catch Stowmarket napping with the backs working hard to put debutant Nev Macnish over in the corner to score. Ely continued to push late on and Joel Scott Paul latched onto a loose ball to score under the posts, Kieran Kennett added the conversion.
Tigers results
Development XV 87
March 3
3rd XV 5
Newmarket 3 19
Under 16s 47
Saffron Walden 5
Under 15s 5
Saffron Walden 41
