Derby Day Points head the wrong way back down the A142

 🏆 Counties 1 Eastern Counties - 📆 21st September 2024 - 🆚 Newmarket - 🕣 2pm KO 

📍Cambridge Commodities Park

The first local derby of the season came as Newmarket travelled along the A142 to Cambridge Commodities Park to face Ely Tigers, Tigers were forced to change their starting XV due to injuries, after a bright start for Ely it was the visitors that opened the scoring with an early try the conversion couldn’t be added  as they took a 5 point lead, a tap and go penalty under the posts saw Tigers open their scoring as Mitch Kennett  bundled the ball over to score, Alsop add the conversion as Tigers took a 2 point lead.

Mistake at a line out allowed Newmarket to score again, in the same spot as previous try, this time the conversion was added, from here it was the visitors that controlled the game, as they  break free once more from a line out deep in their own half, with Tigers unable to make the tackles count as they allowed Newmarket free to score under the posts, conversion added, missing tackles and moving the ball quickly saw another try for Newmarket, with the conversion added, with the aid of the upright as there score board read 26-7, from a line out, Ely won the ball as Jordan Barnes took the ball over for a try, a penalty to Newmarket in front of the posts saw them opt for the points, with three points being added to the score board with the successful kick, as half time approached Newmarket score again, as Ely fail again to hold on to the player as the visitors break again down the wing, cutting in to score under the posts, with the conversion added they lead at the break 36-14.

Second half started with neither side able to get a hold of the game, and it was the hosts that put the first points on the board, and came from an error from the visitors, the error put Ely deep into the Newmarket half, the ball finally being taken across the try line by Jim Storey, Alsop was able to add the conversion, but it was missed tackles, highlighted by head coach, Des Lloyd, after the game, that came back to trouble Ely again as Newmarket crossed the try line once more, again with the conversion added the visitors lead 43-21,  

Ely finished the game with 14 men as Matt McCarthy was sown a yellow card for a high tackle, the final whistle blew soon after as the points headed back along the A142 to Newmarket.

Hasn't he got lovely hair !!!

🏆 Counties 1 Eastern Counties - 📆 14th September 2024 - 🆚 Bury 2’s - 🕣 3pm KO - 

📍 The Greene King IPA Haberden, Bury St Edmunds

Bury away is one of the easiest away games in the league with an easy drive across into Suffolk, and a pleasant ground when you get there with plenty of parking, you just have to make sure you don't park directly behind the uprights, if you do you learn quickly not to !!!!  Like the 2023/24 season saw the game was played in bright sun shire, but unlike last season the game was played on the clubs main pitch,

Tigers travelled to face Bury 2s as Tigers looked to build on their opening day victory, the Tigers handed a debut to summer signing Archie Bell.

It was the Tigers that got the first points on the scoreboard after a spell of pressure, finally moving the ball from left to right finding Adam Tallack who found a gap in the corner to tab the ball down, with Jake Alsop able to add the conversion points, a penalty awarded soon after saw Alsop add a further three points to the scoreboard as the Tigers led 10-0.

The home side started to get a foot in the game as they picked up a loose kick and attack, with the ball out to wings, finding the gaps to score their first try, with the conversion added Tigers leaded narrowed, a penalty for Bury saw them opt for the three points to level the scoreboard,

Half time approach with the award of a penalty, Alsop opting to kick for the points, but the chance was missed as the scores reminded level, it was the home side that took the lead on the stroke of half time, with a quickly taken penalty resulting in a try, with the conversion added as the home side took the lead for the first time, from the restart Ely were awarded a penalty, for the same point as the one moments earlier, this time Alsop made no mistake, and with the help of the upright the ball dropped the right side as the half ended with Bury leading 17-13

The restart of the second half saw a turning point of the half, as Bury went down to 14, following a high tackle, with the extra man Ely made it count, with Mitch Kennett going over, and with Alsop adding  the extra points, Ely lead once more, but that lead didn’t last long, as back came the home side with a penalty, and once again the score board were level at 20-20.

Ely broke thru again, with Rhys Williams Goldman, scoring his first try since joining the club in the Summer, with Alsop adding the extra points to open a seven point lead,  but Tigers were unable to build on the lead as once again to level the score up, as they break free from tackles to find a gaps to cross the try line , with the conversion added, with the help of the post as once again the scoreboard was level, back came Ely as the broke deep from their own half for a powerful run from Matt McCarthy, the ball finding Paul Dewey whose las gasp pass found Williams Goldman who touched down for the try, Alsop was unable to add the extra points, as the game reached the end, Bury pulled level once more, as they scored a try in corner, as Ely missed tackles once more, the conversion was missed and it looked like the game was going to finish in tie, but from the restart there was still time for a final twist, Ely restarted and kicked the ball into the middle of the part towards the Bury backline, but as the ball came down the defender dropped the ball and knocked on, for the official to award a penalty, Alsop opted to kick, the ball sailed over the posts as the official blew for the final time as Ely ran out 35-32 winners.

Now, I said after the game against Diss that these last minute game don't do the heart any good, but I have a feeling its going to be a rollercoaster of a season, with highs and lows all the way.

Opening Day Fixture

🏆 Counties 1 Eastern Counties - 📆 7^th September 2024 - 🆚 Diss - 🕣 3pm KO - 📍Cambridge Commodities Park

Pre Season training is done, new faces have come and some have gone already, In Ely's case a new coaching team have come in, so opening day of the 2024/25 season has arrived, and gave Ely Tigers a home fixture against Diss, a side they'd done the double over the season before, but this season so many of the clubs in the league had made changes to their coaching, that had also brought changes to the playing squads.

The day also marked the return of the clubs 2nd XV as they played against Mildenhall & Red Lodge in a friendly, first time the second 15 had been out on the pitch since January 2023, with a total of 38 player turning out over the two sides.

The match against Diss kicked off at 3pm, and within a minute Ely found themselves 7-0 down, Tigers were soon level as Matt McCarthy crossed the try line, with Jake Alsop adding the conversion, but back came the visitors as Tigers were unable to get a foot in the door, as they raced into a 21 – 7 lead, as half time approached Tigers added to the score board, as Jim Storey powered over the try line, Alsop was unable to add the conversion as Tigers headed to the break 21-12 behind, the second started very much like the first, a scrappy game, and like the first half it was Diss that added to the score board first with the award of a penalty, which Diss added to increase their lead, Diss went town to 14 as the referee awarded a penalty which Alsop opted to kick, but he pulled his kick wide of the posts.

Soon after Ely had their first try of the half on the board as they moved the from right to left to unable McCarthy   added his second try of the afternoon, with Alsop adding the conversion to close the gap, moments later Tigers were level, as Grant Storey being stopped meters from the try lines, but managed to keep the ball live, probing left to right, finally finding the gaps they needed, as McCarthy’s cross field kick was caught by Declan Wolverson who in turn was able to free Paul Dewey, who finally feed Jim Storey who crossed the line to score his second try of the afternoon, with the conversion missed the score was level at 24-24, from the restart Diss had the chance to score with a penalty, the ball fell short, with time running short the game was heading for a draw, but there was still a chance for Ely , from a scrum on the right in the Diss half, Tigers moved the ball sideways once more looking for the gaps, which they found for McCarthy to score his third try of the afternoon, with Alsop adding the conversion as the final score finished with a 31-24 score, coach Des Lloyd spoke after the game to say, “we done really well, getting that first win, however lots to work on over the next week, from half time we had to make some changes, and that got us to where we needed to be, so we look forward to a week of training and the trip next Saturday to Bury 2s”