2024/25 Counties 1 Eastern Counties League Line Up

 2024/25 Counties 1 Eastern Counties League Line Up

Recently the league lines up were released, so what does that mean for the Tigers !

4 new clubs are in the league next season as we welcome to the Cambridge Commodities Park, Colchester 2's & Newmarket being promoted, while Norwich & Saffron Walden being relegated from their league, who join teams Tigers know well, Bury St Edmunds 2's, Cantabs, Diss, Ipswich, North Walsham 2's, Shelford 2's and Southwold.

Leaving the league, were Wymondham who were league Champions, while Ipswich Y.M, West Norfolk & Wisbech all depart, we wish them well for the coming season.  

New head coach Des Lloyd, and his coaching staff,  and the team will be travelling a total of 589 miles over the course of the season. 

• Bury St Edmunds 2's         29.3
• Cantabs                               20.1
• Colchester 2's                     58.5
• Diss                                      44.7
• Ipswich                                59.7
• Newmarket                         15.7
• North Walsham 2's            75
• Norwich                               68.9
• Saffron Walden                  42.9
• Southwold                          87

Cambridgeshire RFU Under 17's bring the curtain down with a win

 

📆 26th May 2024 - 🕣 2pm KO - 📍 Shelford Rugby Club - Cambridgeshire RFU U17s🆚Norfolk RFU U17s

Cambridgeshire RFU signed off there season with a fixture against their counterparts from Norfolk RFU at Shelford Rugby Club, the squad was made up of players from St Ives, Newmarket, Shelford, Cambridge, St Neots, Bury St Edmunds, Huntingdon, The Perse and Saffron Walden, with 4 players making their debut's.

Rain showers greeted the players during the warm ups, but soon the sun came out once again for the start of the game, an early chance for Cambridgeshire with the award of a penalty, opting to go for the points, however the ball drifted wide of the posts, however from the restart Cambs had their first points on the board, picking up the ball in their own half, to return the ball for a try under the posts, with the conversion added they lead 7-0  

Despite the bright start Cambridgeshire couldn’t get a grip on the game, and it was Norfolk that crossed the try line next, as Cambs kicked forward deep in their on own half the ball was charged down and picked up by Norfolk to score, with the conversion added the scores where level. 

From the restart Cambs once again found spaces in the Norfolk defense, breaking away to score under the posts, once more, with the conversion added to open up the gap once more

Cambridgeshire line out inside 5 meters saw Cambs try to push Norfolk over the line, but the defence stood firm, Cambs released the ball to cross the try line once more, again the conversion added. 

Second half started with Norfolk pinning Cambs back deep in their own half, Cambridgeshire went down to 14 as Norfolk added more pressure, Cambridgeshire held Norfolk up, giving Cambridgeshire the chance to break, however Norfolk picked up the goal line kick to apply more pressure 

Despite not being in Norfolk half for much of the second half, they finally make it, Cambridge score the next try, with the conversion added

The best try of the afternoon came as Cambridgeshire picked up the ball from the try restart, passing along the lines, with the gap on the wing closing the winger decided to nudge the ball back in field, chasing down the forward who picked up the bounce of the ball to run free and score, under the posts, with the conversion added

There was still time for a further try, from a penalty, Cambs kick to touch and win the line out, they manage to maul the ball over the try line to score, leaving a difficult kick from the side and against the wind, the conversion was missed, as Cambridgeshire run out 47-7 winners.

Eastern Counties Men Bow Out of this season's Bill Beaumont Championship

📆 25th May 2024 - 🕣 3pm KO - 📍 Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club - Eastern Counties 🆚East Midlands 

The Eastern Counties Men's squad bowed out of the this season's Championship following defeat against East Midlands at Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club, once again Eastern Counties rung the changes to the playing squad, calling on players from Wymondham, Ipswich, St Ives, West Norfolk, Shelford, Colchester, Saffron Walden, Stowmarket and Ely Tigers.

Like the previous two weeks game the sun was shone over the ground, if only all games I covered was like this, but alas it hasn't been during the season.

Early pressure from Eastern Counties produces the opening try of the game, scrum on the right, Eastern Counties  keep the ball live, moving the ball across the field with a kick into the corner, the ball was kept live and set up a try, with the conversion added, from the restart East Midland's apply pressure resulting in a try, but there were unable to convert the conversion. East Midlands soon after take the lead from a missed Eastern Counties tackle to break free to score just to the left of the posts, with the conversion added they lead 12-7, they soon increased the lead with the award of a penalty which they converted, to lead 15-7. 

Eastern Counties conceded another penalty which East Midlands take the chance to kick for points, which they add the points to the scoreboard to lead at the break 18-7.

East Midlands score the first try off the second half, a half so far littered with penalty’s and stoppages, with the

conversion added they increased their lead to 25-7, on the hour, East Midlands went down to 14 men, during this time Eastern Counties added their second try, with the conversion added, but were soon dealt a blow as they also went down to 14, despite this they were next to add points to the scoreboard, from a penalty on the left Eastern Counties work the ball out, finding Jake Alsop who kicked across the field the ball was picked up by the winger to juggle the ball over the try line in the corner, leaving a difficult kick, which was unconverted.

From the restart Eastern Counties hand a chance to East Midlands to open the gap once more with a penalty, but the chance went as the ball drifted wide of the posts, from the drop out kick, Eastern Counties again failed to tackle and the East Midlands pushed forward once more, again they conceded a penalty to clear for a line out, but again Eastern Counties when penalized another penalty for the line out not straight. 

With 80 minutes on the clock East Midlands were awarded another penalty which was the final kick of the game as the finish whistle blew as East Midlands ran out 28-19 winners to win the pool group.

Out Of Date Sat Nav !!! Another new ground

 📆 18th May 2024- 🕣 3pm KO - 📍 Broadstreet Rugby Club -Warwickshire 🆚Eastern Counties

A week after travelling to Banbury RC, it was once more on the road for a first visit to Broadstreet Rugby Club, on the outskirts of Coventry, for Warwickshire v Eastern Counties 

A nice easy one really, get to the A14, ignoring Doris telling me to make an U Turn, as the map shows I've driving through fields until finally picking on the A14 passed Brampton Hut, from there it was put the car on cruise control, sit back and enjoy the sight's !! or what sights the A14 offers, once at the end of the A14, Doris was telling me to a U Turn once more, as it says I was in fields again !! two junctions of the M6 it was time to pick up the A46, again the road looked different from the last time I was this way visiting Coventry Speedway, so I knew the route a little, at the first roundabout, where I picked up the worse traffic of the trip, so turn left, a mile to go. left at the next roundabout, this is the problem there is no roundabout any more, they've built a flyover as they extended the A46 around Coventry, so off at the slip road and the roundabout appeared, luckily they've also opened the views across the rugby so the pitches were in sight, so pulled into the car park, whilst in the car while over looking the pitches, we watched a fox coming out the woods, and cross over two pitches into the woods on the otherside, a route the fox looked to have done many times before. 

Eastern Counties had made changes from the previous weeks defeat at Oxfordshire, pulling in players from Wymondham, Ipswich, Saffron Walden, Shelford, St Ives, West Norfolk, Ely, Colchester, Stowmarket, Norwich, and Cantabs 

A bright start for Eastern Counties as with just minutes on the clock they crashed over the try line, with the conversion added

they went into a 7-0 lead, the seemed to brought some life into the home county, as from the restart they applied pressure on Eastern Counties, they eventually finding a gap to cross the line to score, with the conversion added to level the scores, neither side could get a grip on the game, both having good spells, but unable to make the breakthrough, with half time approaching Warwickshire were awarded with a penalty, choosing the option to go with three points, but the ball falls the wrong side of the uprights.

The start of the second half saw Eastern Counties pinned back in their own half, and it was only a matter of time before Warwickshire adding to the scoreboard, and they soon added their second try, to which that added the conversion. 

A break from Eastern Counties saw them add the next try, breaking free to score under the posts, with conversion added it was again all square once again at 14-14. 

From a miss placed pass from Eastern Counties it gave a chance for Warwickshire to score straight from the restart, on the left wing, with the conversion added they added a 7 point gap, another break from Eastern Counties saw the award of a penalty try, to level the scores once, but the it also saw the home county going down to 14,  another come back by the home county, despite being a man down, scoring in the corner from a scrum, leaving a difficult conversion attempt, with the ball falling short

As the game went into the last ten minutes, the hot conditions were starting to take effect on both sides, despite being man down the home side scored again, with neat kick though, a gap for the running forward to pick up the bounce to score, with the conversion added, with 30 seconds on the yellow card, Eastern Counties go over the line once more to close the gap to 5 points. 

From the restart the home side put the ball deep in Eastern Counties half with the backs forcing the ball to be move l from side to side , once inside Warwickshire half Easter Counties, concede a scrum, easing the pressure as the clock counted down to the finish.

I spoke about the speedway stadium earlier, well as it was just down the road, I thought I'd head back the M6 via Rugby, passing by the Stadium, I wish I hadn't now, the home of Coventry Bees and stock car racing was all fenced off, weeds growing high and all over the car park, a shocking sight to be seen.

The drive home was an easy one, once around passed Rugby.

    

Cambridgeshire Under 17s - Remembering Ed

 

📆 12^th May 2024 - 🕣 1pm KO - 📍 Woodbridge Rugby Club - Suffolk RFU U17s🆚Cambridgeshire RFU U17s

After a trip to Oxfordshire the day before today was another road trip, this time to Suffolk and to Woodbridge RFU, for Suffolk Under 17's against Cambridgeshire Under 17's, both squads had lost players as the Eastern Counties Under 17's travel to Horsham to play their counter parts from Sussex.

Cambridgeshire's squad was made up of players from St Ives, Newmarket, Shelford, Cambridge, St Neots, Bury St Edmunds and Huntingdon, before the game both squads came together for a minutes silence for Ed Noble, who passed away while returning from a work tip in America, Ed was a tremendously supporter of Cambridgeshire rugby through his business, QAV Global.

For a change at Woodbridge the sun shone down, which made a pleasant change from previous visits, let hope it continues, and summer has arrived !!

After a fast start by both sides it’s Cambridgeshire that make the first break with a try and a conversion, this was quickly followed by their second try, after pinning back Suffolk in their own half, this time the conversion was missed. 

The third try came from a break from Cambridgeshire own half, going across the line any the posts, conversion was added to lead 19-0, after a water break, Suffolk crossed the line following an advantage, going across in the corner, leaving a difficult conversion, which was missed as Cambridgeshire lead 19-5 at the break. 

Start of the second was perfect for Suffolk as they crossed the line for their second try of the afternoon, conversion added, from a difficult angle, Suffolk started the half the brighter of the two sides, and they soon scored their second try of half, in a very simpler place the previous try, again the conversion was added to level the scores

Against the run of play, Cambridgeshire scored, unchallenged under the posts, with the conversion added,  back come Suffolk by pushing Cambs back on their defensive line, to score in the corner, leaving another difficult kick for the conversion, which was missed to close the gap.

Last ten minutes of the game, Cambridgeshire extend their lead with a further try, but they were unable to add the  conversion, from a scrum deep inside the Cambridgeshire half they win the ball, and break free, to score, again they were unable to add the conversion as the full time score finished 36-24 win for Cambs.

This win was for you Ed !

Cambridgeshire have a week off this coming weekend (18/19th), while Suffolk travel to West Norfolk RFU to play Norfolk, before Cambridgeshire face Norfolk on the 26th May at Shelford.

Bill Beaumont Cup - Oxfordshire v Eastern Counties

📆 11th May 2024 - 🕣 3pm KO - 📍 Banbury Rugby Club - Oxfordshire 🆚Eastern Counties 

With the league season all done and dusted, its now time for three games in three weeks in pool 3 of the Bill Beaumont Division 2, Eastern Counties where joined by East Midlands & Warwickshire in their group, today the side travelled to Banbury Rugby Club for their opening fixture against Oxfordshire, a straight forward trip, over to Milton Keynes, Buckingham and then across country roads to arrive at Banbury without coming across the town center. 

Eastern Counties choose their squad of players from Saffron Walden, Ipswich, St Ives, Shelford, West Suffolk, Wymondham, Ely, Cantabs & Mildenhall & Red Lodge for this opening fixture

The game started with the home starting brightly and pinning Eastern Counties back, the first try came after 10 minutes as the home County dived over the line to score, with the conversion added they opened a 7 point lead, a penalty for EC gave them a chance to pulled some points back from the restart, Jake Alsop stepped up to slot the ball home, a error from the restart handed the ball straight back to Oxon, with a scrum deep in EC half, Oxon kept the ball from the scrum to score, pretty much in the same error as the first, with the conversion added to lead 14-3.

Another penalty for Eastern Counties handed Alsop the ball to close the gap once more, again Alsop was able to slot the ball home, Eastern Counties slowly started to get hold of the game, pinning Oxon back, but despite this it was the home county that scored the next try, from a line out that was fumbled by Eastern Counties, Oxfordshire punted the ball forward across the touch line, from the resulting drop line kick out, Oxon picked up the kick and scored the third try under the posts, with the conversion added,

As half time approached the home county scored again , this time in just inside the corner, leaving a difficult conversion which they were unable to convert to lead at half time 26-6.

Second half and an early break for Eastern Counties to get some points on the board with another penalty, with Alsop once again slotting home,  but any chance of a Eastern Counties second come back soon was halted as Oxfordshire hit back with another try, with the overlap on the right, it looked like the winger thrumbled the ball before touching down over the line, but the official gave the try, the conversion was missed. 

From a line out Eastern Counties win the ball and spread the play out wide, a dive over the line enable their first try to be scored, with the conversion added, the lead was 31-16, back came the home county as the scored from the restart under the posts, to leave a simple conversion, the home county wasn't finished with yet another drive with seven minutes left on the clock, but again they were unable to add the conversion, Oxfordshire of the 80 minutes were first to loose balls, and stronger in the tackle, and scrum.

As the game went into 80 minutes there was still time for a try, again Oxfordshire going in under the posts to leave a simple conversion, to top the 50 point marks, deep info injury time and the home county was down to 14, from the resulting penalty Eastern Counties crossed over to score their second try, with Alsop adding the conversion on the strike of full time.

With the game ending in defeat, for Eastern Counties where next week they travel to face Warwickshire, who also opened with a defeat.

Once I'd sent off some photos back to Eastern Counties HQ I packed the car up and headed back to Cambridgeshire, at the first the same way as i came, but as I got back to the A43 the sat-nav sent me towards Northampton, and back up the M1 to Milton Keynes, but I decided to ignore Doris on the SatNav and headed for home, the way i knew which was straight forward.

2023/24 Ely Tigers End Of Season Dinner

The 2023/24 season finally came to an end as the Seniors started off the weekend of awards evenings, for the seniors it was chance to say Thank You and Farewell to Coach Paul "Buzz" Coulson, the evening for some started off in Ely City Center, just after 2pm, while others met at 5pm and 6pm in the Isle Of Ely pub, then around 7pm they started to fill the clubhouse, ready for a three course meal, the first course was Leek & Potato Soup, that had a slight kick to it the more you had, it was white pepper, so we was told, time for the mains, Steak pie, but in reality it was a dish of chunky beef. with a puff pastry lid, lovely, oh and some green stuff, not sure what it was to be honest, following up with a chocolate dessert.

With the meal done and dusted, it was time for a game of heads and tails, but it turned out to be two, as the numbers were getting down, a turn of a card, so everyone sit down, we go again, it was down to two, up stepped, Grant Storey & "Fozz", one chose heads, the other tails, with the turn of the card, it was Fozz that was £120 richer, well until he went to the bar !!!!

It was the time of the awards, and speeches, the chairman's speech and his awards, Thanking those that have helped behind the scenes during the season, it was then the time to Thank Buzz & Kim, presenting them with a framed shirt, next was to be Fuzz, so out comes a bag, and inside that bag, was a signed Bath Rugby shirt, its safe to say that he was left for words, as he daughter said "its not many times I've seen Dad left for words".

So then it was over the the captain, Lory Martins speech, as he captaincy comes to its 2 year end, there wasn't one member of the squad that didn't get a mention, and not always in a good way !!!

With the speeches over with it was a time when Chairman's Karaoke !!!  with what has turn out to be a club anthem.

The winners on the night were as follows; 

Players Player of the Year  Matt McCarthy

Top Points Scorer

Top Try Scorer

Captains Player                    Luke Turner       

Coaches Player                    John Dibb

Breakthrough Player            Rob Armer

Players Clubman                   Mitch Kennett

Players Most Improved        Isaac Oldwood

On a personal note I'd like to Thank the players of Ely Tigers aswell as the people working hard behind the scenes. enjoy the summer, and we go again next season

 

Eastern Counties Tri-Counties Under 17s

📆 1^st May 2024 - 🕣 7:15pm KO - 📍 Thetford Rugby Club - Tri-Counties Under 17s

After a successful season for Cambridgeshire at Senior, Under 20 and 18's it was the turn of the Under 17's to take center stage, players from Shelford RFC, West Suffolk Collage, The Leys, Newmarket RFC, Impington College, Huntingdon RFC, Hinchingbrooke College, Kings - EIy, Cambridge RFC, Hills Road, Bury St Edmunds RFC, Long Road, St Neots RFC, Comberton College and Ely Tigers.

Squads from Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk travelled to Thetford RFC for a series of games, played over 30 minutes each one, the first saw Cambridgeshire play Norfolk, the game started badly for "the Shire" as they were forced to make a change at the start for a high tackle call by the touch judge, it was Cambridgeshire that crossed the line first to score the opening try, there was no conversions to be taken, due to the short length of play, Cambridgeshire went on the add two further tries to end the game with a 15-0 win.

The second game saw Cambridgeshire take on Suffolk in the same format, again it was Cambridgeshire that came out on top, with a 10-0 win.

Its clear to see over the three games that the Eastern Counties selectors have their work cut out picking their squad for their upcoming games.

 

Cambridgeshire RFU County Finals

📆 27th April 2024 - 🕣 Noon KO - 📍 Ellgia Fields, Cambridge Rugby Club 

Today saw the end of the season for Cambridgeshire clubs as it was time to hand out the silverware for the 2023/24 as March Bears faced St Ives 2's in the Junior Cup, Newmarket faced Royston in the Intermediate Cup, there was also meant to be the Senior Cup Final as Saffron Walden were due to play Shelford 2's, but Shelford, as a club decided to go to Twickenham.  

MARCH BEARS v ST IVES 2's

The first game kicked off at Noon, with March Bears, who went unbeaten all season took to the field to play St Ives 2's, who finished in 7th place in the same league as the Bears, March started the stronger of the sides, racing into a 15-0 lead, St Ives first points came with a penalty, quickly followed up with another to reduce the lead, but March added their own penalty, as half time approached St Ives added another penalty as the half time scoreboard showed a 18-9 lead for the Bears.  

The second started well for St Ives as the closed the gap to two points, it seem that the slow start to the first was going to cost them as the Final entered the final 5 minutes there was still two points in it, it was a case of whoever scored next would lift the cup, despite pinning back the Bears, St Ives couldn't find the gap to cross the try line in fact against the run in play it was March that troubled the scoreboard next, with a converted try, to lead 25-16, that looked to be it, but there was still time for another penalty for March for them to complete the scoring as the final score finished 28-16

NEWMARKET v ROYSTON 2s

The second game of the afternoon saw Newmarket face Royston 2s for the Intermediate Cup, Royston fielded a mixed team as they also fielded a team in their Papa Johns Cup fixture, Newmarket where looking to add some more silverware to cap off their successful season that saw them finish as runners up in the Counties 2 Eastern Counties,  Royston, like Newmarket also finished Runners Up in their league, the Merit North league.

Newmarket started the brighter and soon opened up a 14-0 lead, before Royston managed to themselves to get on the scoreboard, the cut the lead in half with a converted try, however Newmarket soon crossed the try line once more and dominated the first half to lead at the break 38-7.

The second half saw neither side able to get a foot hold in the game, with the busier people on the pitch was the medics, it was Royston that troubled the score board first, but it was half way though the half that it happened, the half finally kicked into life, as Newmarket crossed the line once more to increase their lead, and maybe halt any idea of a Royston fight back, as the game edged towards 80 minutes, Royston went down to 14, and during this time Newmarket broke the 50 point tally, to lead 50-14, as the game went into added time there was still time for both sides to add to the score board with Royston scoring a try, however it was Newmarket that had the last word with a converted try as the final score finished 57-19.