RUGBY ROUND-UP Woodbridge 34 Ely Tigers 0 ELY travelled to Woodbridge looking to test the league leaders. After quick turn-over ball the Woodbridge back row attacked, tying in the Ely defence before creating an overlap for the winger to score in the corne

RUGBY ROUND-UP

Woodbridge 34 Ely Tigers 0

ELY travelled to Woodbridge looking to test the league leaders.

After quick turn-over ball the Woodbridge back row attacked, tying in the Ely defence before creating an overlap for the winger to score in the corner, despite some good covering tackles by the back three.

Keen to make amends, Ely attacked but Woodbridge, courtesy of some missed tackles, scored under the posts.

Woodbridge turned-over an Ely attacking ball and kicked downfield. Ely just managed to clear the ball but from the resultant line-out Woodbridge scored a drop goal for a 15-0 half-time lead.

The second-half started off badly with some missed tackles enabling Woodbridge to score another converted try. Then, against the run of play, Woodbridge scored again to lead 27-0.

Ely were now gambling in attack and trying to force the game before the platform was set, this led to another error which enabled Woodbridge to score their final try.

County Junior Cup Semi-Final

Ely Tigers II 0

Cambridge II 42

INJURIES as well as call-up by the first XV left the second XV with a changed side from last week for the visit of the strong Cambridge II.

Ely's defence held at the start but eventually conceded a five-metre penalty from which Cambridge scored. Ely restarted and the pattern repeated. The third kick-off was different as Ely poorly marked a line-out and Cambridge scored again.

Ten minutes gone, trailing 15-0 and the Ely dream seemed shattered.

With five minutes of the half remaining, scrum-half Dave Pople left the field with apparent concussion. The rearranged Ely side conceded a try almost immediately.

The second-half started badly, hooker Alan Mason left for a blood injury and an Ely attack, now with possession, dropped a pass. The ball was hacked downfield where a hurried clearance gave Cambridge a line-out eight metres out from which they drove over to score for 27-0.

Ely had a man sin-binned and Cambridge exploited the extra player to score twice, then a third time for 37-0, just as Ely were restored to a full complement.

The Tigers tried to pull weary legs into attack but it was Cambridge who found the Ely defence on it's heels and scored to finish the game 42-0.

Ely Tiger-16s 17

Newmarket Under-16s 36

NEWMARKET ran in three tries within the first 20 minutes before Ely replied from a try scored by Craig Rands.

Newmarket ran in one more before half-time.

Ely lost influential fly-half Joel Scott-Paul with a knee injury. Nevertheless the second half started well for the Tigers with some good drives up the middle of the pitch and a break-away run by Sean Kennett to score in the corner.

Later in the game Craig Rands chipped ahead then hacked on with support from Adam Free who dived on the ball over the Newmarket line for Ely's third try. This was converted by Mick Molly but Nemarket came back strongly to score two more tries.

Newmarket Under-15s 25 Ely Tiger-15s 3

IN the last 10 minutes of the first half, Newmarket took the lead.

Early in the second half Chris Hobson kicked a penalty for Ely.

Newmarket gained control of the match running in four more tries.

The man of the match award was shared between Lewis Jenkins and Tim Evans.

Stowmarket Under-14s 10 Ely Tiger-14s 20

STOWMARKET, although not dominating the first half, managed to run in two tries to Ely's none.

The second half saw Ely restructure and through Ben Fordham, generate a worthy comeback. He stormed through the Stowmarket defence within minutes of coming on and this galvanised the Tigers, who promptly ran in three more tries, all scored by Andrew Jones.

Mini-Rugby Round-Up

ELY mini-section travelled to Newmarket on Sunday to play Newmarket and Stowmarket.

Ely Tiger-12s were determined to maintain their impressive record of having beaten every major club in the county this year. In the first game aginst Newmarket, Miles Orvis ran in three exceptional tries from the wing.

Jack McCurdy ran in a try from scrum-half and Henry Baker drove over from a lineout peel. Newmarket scored twice but the Tiger-12s won 35-14. Ely won a second game against Newmarket 12-7, Miles Orvis and Henry Baker scoring for Ely.

Ely Tiger-10s started against Newmarket and quickly James Fraser laid off a superb pass to Will Marshall to score. Ely built on this success with tries by James Fraser (two) and another by Will Marshall. Newmarket answered with one of their own.

In the second half the strength of the Tigers proved too much with four more tries going over from James Fraser (two), Ryan Pease and Cairan Russell to win 35-5.

Ely played Stowmarket next. The Tigers' pack was dominant and able to supply excellent ball to scrum half Cairan Russell. Callum Pratt scored the lone first-half try but Will Marshall and William Ballard added tries in the second-half to win 15-0.

The Tiger-Nines first played a large and physical Stowmarket team. The team tackled their larger opponents and put together some great passing moves. Eventually they emerged victorious, 20-5, scoring four tries, three to Oliver Bailey and one to Luke Brown.

The second match was against hosts Newmarket again the teams were well matched. Crucially Ely managed to get their passes away before contact and tries were scored by Oliver Bailey (two) and Ronan Cook for a 15-5 win.

The Tiger-Eights started against the home team and ran out winners by 40-25. Hat-tricks by Ruairidh Macdonald and Joseph Shirley as well as tries by Mark Parry and William Hurst saw the Tigers home.

There was tenacious tackling by Ellie Burns and Ely forced Newmarket into a number of handling errors. Coach Paul Hurst said the teamwork was exceptional. In the second game against Stowmarket, Ely won a hard-fought game of rugby 30-35.

A second hat-trick by Ruairidh Macdonald a brace from Joseph Shirley and tries by Pierce Atkinson and Mark Parry were the cornerstone of a second win.